BODY TYPE DIET
AND
DISEASES
Know your body type, discover your optimal diet, and prevent
disease.
David Lee Acupuncture Thousand Oaks, California
David Lee, L.Ac., Ph.D. Ph.D. in Oriental Medicine B.A. in Psychology Pre-medicine
appt. 805-497-6200 166 N. Moorpark Rd., Suite 201 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 www.davidleeacupuncture.com
ii copyright © 2013 David Lee
Welcome!
Reading and understanding this eBook is the first step toward
having a healthier body and a more fulfilling life.
Purpose
I have created this eBook for you so that you may discover your
best self and be in control of your health! You will find this eBook
very helpful in identifying and determining what foods are beneficial
for you and what foods are harmful. Harmful foods cause many of
the chronic physiological problems that lead to lethargy and mental
sluggishness, resulting in stunted performance and less happiness.
By knowing your body type you can identify and eliminate
foods you are allergic to or intolerant of; this will improve your
health and the quality of your life. You will have a healthier body
and a healthier mind.
Roadmap
There are three chapters to follow. Read chapters 1 and 2 first.
They will guide you through determining your body type and
identifying your individualized food items. Chapter 3 details Eastern
medical philosophy in layman terms.
Chapter 1 (click mouse here)
Food items, beneficial and harmful, for diverse body types.
iii copyright © 2013 David Lee
Chapter 2 (click mouse here)
Identify your body type using a questionnaire.
Chapter 3 (click mouse here)
Yin, yang, wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are the basic concepts
in developing body type theory in the framework of Eastern medicine.
If you would like me to verify your body type in
person, you can make an appointment with me by
calling 805.497.6200 or visiting
www.davidleeacupuncture.com.
Enjoy your path to discovering a healthier you!
iv copyright © 2013 David Lee
Contents
About David Lee ................................................................................. v
Acknowledgements ............................................................................. v
Disclaimer ........................................................................................... v
Foreword ............................................................................................ vi
Chapter 1 Foods for the Body Type ............................................. 1
Allergy-Intolerance ................................................................................. 2
Food Items for the Body Type ................................................................ 4
Body Type Defined ............................................................................... 11
Side Effects of Harmful Foods ............................................................. 12
Foods and Health .................................................................................. 14
Food Amount vs. Food Type ................................................................ 18
Detoxification and Weight Control ....................................................... 19
Chapter 2 Body Type Diagnosis ............................................... 21
Importance of Body Typing .................................................................. 21
Body Typing in Four Constitutional Medicine ..................................... 21
Lesser Yang (a) and Lesser Yin (b) Questionnaire ............................... 23
Greater Yang (c) and Greater Yin (d) Questionnaire ............................ 26
Lesser Yang and Lesser Yin Descriptions ............................................ 30
Greater Yang and Greater Yin Descriptions ......................................... 35
Psychological Types: East Meets West ................................................ 43
Chapter 3 History and Philosophy ............................................ 63
Diseases and Body Types ..................................................................... 63
Origin and Development of Asian Medicine ........................................ 65
Glossary ................................................................................................ 69
Bibliography ................................................................................. 70
v copyright © 2013 David Lee
About David Lee
David Lee, Ph.D., is a licensed acupuncturist and an Asian herbal medicine
practitioner. He received his doctorate of philosophy in Oriental medicine in 2006
from American Liberty University in Fullerton, California. In addition, he received
his master’s degree in Oriental Medicine in 1999 from Emperor’s College of
Traditional Oriental Medicine. He completed an externship at the Daniel Freeman
Hospital in the city of Marina del Rey, California, and at the University of
California Los Angeles Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center. He
studied pre-medicine and received a bachelor of arts in psychology at University
of California, Irvine. Dr. Lee has been practicing since 2000 and is currently based
in Thousand Oaks, California.
Author of Four Constitutional Acupuncture: Diagnosis and Four Needle
Technique and Four Constitutional Acupuncture: Theory and Herbology.
Acknowledgements
My gratitude goes to the doctors who brought constitutional medicine to the
global stage. And to my patient Elvira Wilson, whose loving heart and tenderness
have spurred my realization that meaning, living, and health are intertwined.
Disclaimer Patients are always encouraged to notify and work with their primary
physician when making any health changes. This book is intended for food
identification and elimination for the body type, and does not replace medical
recommendations by your primary physician.
David Lee Acupuncture Clinic does not make any claims to diagnose, treat,
or cure diseases that are not within the scope of acupuncture and Asian medicine.
There is no guarantee that body type diet is for everyone, and not everyone will
experience the same results.
Discontinue following the recommendations in this book if you experience
dizziness, nausea, allergies, aggravation, or other unpleasant symptoms. Do not
consume these foods if you have or have had life-threatening reactions with
potential food allergens, such as nuts or shellfish.
vi copyright © 2013 David Lee
Foreword
What makes Asian medicine particularly notable is that the treatments are
individualized. Each patient is approached with the understanding that the
individual’s internal equilibrium and the body’s illnesses need to be addressed
simultaneously. By simply adjusting your body type, your body takes care of its
own problems. This disease and body focused medicine is flexible, and can provide
individualized and customized treatment for each person.
A holistic approach to health is becoming more accepted for preventative care
and for treatment of chronic diseases. Perhaps this is the reason why Eastern
medicine is the fastest growing medical profession today.
For at least 3,000 years, foods, acupuncture needles, and plant based herbs
were the means of medicine for the treatment of acute, chronic, musculoskeletal,
and internal diseases. Its theoretical framework and long medical history helped
develop a complex and efficient system for treating various ailments.
You can participate by understanding your body’s unique chemistry and by
adopting a diet that is best suited for you.
David Lee, Ph.D., L.Ac.
Doctor of Philosophy in Oriental Medicine
Licensed Acupuncturist
Chapter 1 Foods for the Body Type
The foods that we eat everyday have tremendous impact on our health. Food
should not only provide nutrition and calories for energy, but should also serve as
medicine that affects the way our body functions. Food is an indispensable part of
healing and can be used in a proactive way to keep people responsible for their
own health.
Before bio-molecular medicine became dominant, herbs were used to treat
diseases because they strongly influence the body’s physiology. Food and herbs
have the same source, the former being more nutritious and the latter being more
medicinal. Because we eat various foods every day, over time their effects can
accumulate in our bodies for health or for harm.
Many diseases can be avoided and treated simply by changing our diets. Many
people turn from destructive eating habits after seeing loved ones suffer from
debilitating or terminal diseases. Heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease,
diabetes, recurrent infection, and digestive problems are still rampant. Obesity
causes and aggravates many diseases. They can be prevented by eating foods that
promote optimal health benefits to the body.
Improved digestive function, moods,
hormonal balance, energy, and sense of well-
being are all subjective experiences that suggest
the body’s healthier state.
Peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, gluten, soybeans,
eggs, chicken, garlic, onion, corn, and shellfish
are not only common foods, but are also
common in being beneficial or harmful due to their ubiquity. The harm or the
benefit depends on the individual’s body type, not the food itself. Food allergies
and intolerance are genetically expressed. A person can be harmed or benefited by
the same foods throughout their lifetime. As we age, it is increasingly imperative
to avoid foods that cause stress to our bodies.
Many diseases can be
avoided and treated
simply by avoiding
harmful foods for the
body type.
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Allergy-Intolerance
There are three characteristics of food that one should be aware of and practice
regularly. They are allergy-intolerance, variety-moderation, and toxicity-
cleanliness. This book discusses the allergy-intolerance for each body type.
Allergy-intolerant foods elicit an immune system response and create stress for the
body’s normal physiology due to a mismatch with the body type. Rather than
promoting health, they wreak havoc, especially in a weakened state. Because their
harmful effects are subtle and minute, they are wrongly deemed safe. For this
reason, they are still ubiquitous and commonly consumed. The hypersensitivity
can be reduced by the body getting used to them, but continual consumption will
inhibit its normal functioning. They make the body more difficult to come back
from injuries and worsen age-related illnesses. Since the negative response is an
expression from your genetic make-up, they should either be avoided or minimized.
Variety-moderation relates to the diversity of nutrients that the body requires
for maintaining normal function and storing them in reserve for its future use,
thereby consistently promoting a healthier body. Body type diet does not restrict
your diet, but is an adjustment through providing additional ingredients you would
not consume otherwise. It provides diversity of foods for the body’s requirement
and for your enjoyment. A habit of consuming low variety will result in nutritional
deficiency increasing susceptibility for diseases and hastening the aging process,
especially if the foods are starchy and fatty.
Toxicity-cleanliness refers to foods that are laced with unnatural chemicals or
some GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) forcibly causing harmful effects.
Some toxic chemicals are artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, pesticides, and
preservatives. Many industrial chemical by-products are not bio-degradable and
will be inadvertently present in the foods. A solution to efficiently produce crops
for the growing world population is leading to increased development of GMOs,
which may have unintended consequences to the environment and to our health.
To test which foods are harmful, start by identifying the foods you suspect to
be the culprits. Completely avoid one food item for an entire week and then
introduce it in significant amount with every meal for two to three days. Observe
and note the body’s response in this 48-72 hour period. Repeat with other foods. It
3 copyright © 2013 David Lee
may require a longer period of consumption for your physiology to exhibit
negative symptoms. Repeat several times to observe and confirm through
consistent negative responses. Caution: do not consume any food if you are known
to be hyper-allergic or intolerant. You may go into anaphylactic shock, which is a
life-threatening reaction.
Avoiding or minimizing harmful foods is more important than eating the right
foods because the health-promoting foods will not cancel out the negative impact
of harmful foods. So it is best not to introduce the harmful ingredients in the first
place.
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Food Items for the Body Type
Each body type recognizes a unique set of beneficial and harmful foods. Your
body is a combination of two out of four different body types and will receive
benefit or harm when you eat any of the foods from these categories. You should
fill out the questionnaire to determine which two body types you are. Knowing
what to eat for your body type is a helpful guide to consuming the right foods,
while avoiding harmful foods.
The following lists are common foods specific to the four body types and are
known to have a strong impact on health. Many other common food items are not
mentioned in this book because they can be consumed by all four body types. In
these cases, the negative/positive effects of such foods are so mild that they are
close to being neutral and the long term effects are negligible. Some food items are
not mentioned because they are not commonly consumed, or the influence on the
body types are not known. The degree of negative and positive impact may vary,
depending on the food item and the individual.
When deciding to make changes to your diet, a significant change with at least
70% reduction of the harmful foods from your current diet and adding the
beneficial foods to your daily meal is, in most cases, practical and sufficient. A
complete elimination of harmful foods is in most cases impractical because of
ubiquitous presence in many processed foods. And these common foods have been
deemed generally safe through generations. If those ingredients do not cause a
severe or a life-threatening reaction, then the small amount is not enough to trigger
a meaningful reaction even when taken over a period of time. Once you see the
negative reaction, it is a cue to cut down the harmful foods from your diet.
Eating only the beneficial foods listed below without eating a variety of foods
is not recommended. The following list is not comprehensive, but contains foods
that are known to strongly influence the body’s physiology over time, albeit subtle.
To have diversity of nutrients, the beneficial foods should be incorporated along
with many other nutritious foods.
Often, the subtle negative impact of harmful foods can be more dangerous to
health than those that cause immediate reactions. When the effect of harmful foods
is immediately noticeable or measurable, it provides a clear reason to either reduce
or eliminate them. Because the constant presence of mildly harmful foods causes
subtle changes, the identification harmful foods as the real cause of the disease is
elusive. An eventual disruption of the body’s normal physiology with dysfunction
of organs and an inability to recover is only a matter of time.
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Not all food ingredients on the lists below have equal impact on the body. The
degree of influence is dependent on the ingredient and the receptivity of the body.
The negative impact of some ingredients is quick and strong. Nuts, dairy, fish,
shellfish and soy are known to be highly allergic-intolerant to some. Others are
more subtle and take longer time to cause havoc. Such are seemingly innocuous
lettuce and cabbage, which can cause fatigue without presence of other intolerant
symptoms for Greater Yins if consumed in large amounts for a long period. For
these individuals, their salads should consist of other vegetables.
The symptoms from the same food can vary individually. For example, one
Greater Yang sub-body type will have strong intolerant reaction to dairy with mild
reaction to nuts. Another individual of the same sub-body type will have
anaphylactic response to nuts but will not notice ill-effect from dairy.
Harmful foods do not have to be avoided altogether. It is difficult to do so at
times when beneficial foods are unavailable or there is sporadic craving for the
harmful foods. A small amount, which is a 70-80% reduction of your current
intake, can be supportive toward health and well-being by providing variety of
nutrients. But a moderate to large amount consumed on a regular basis will
eventually make the body unable to process them out efficiently and function
properly at its optimal level. When you significantly reduce harmful foods from
your diet, you naturally choose the beneficial and neutral foods.
Most ingredients not listed in this book are likely neutral or mild in their effect
on the body type. Since they are beneficial for everyone, they can be consumed
regularly without causing any long term problem.
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If you suspect or know some foods cause side effects or life-threatening reactions, do not
consume them.
Lesser Yang Sub-Body Type (aka Soyangin)
Harmful Foods Beneficial Foods
brown rice, sesame, corn
(whole, syrup, starch),
chicken, lamb, venison,
apple, many citrus
(tangerine, orange,
grapefruit, lime and
lemon), honey, most
spices (ginger, garlic, chili,
fennel, black pepper,
turmeric, cinnamon, etc.),
ginseng.
* gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oat),
adzuki bean, mung bean, celery,
cucumber, eggplant, some terrestrial
meats (small to moderate amounts of
pork, turkey, duck), egg white, fish,
most fruits (especially strawberry,
raspberry, blackberry, watermelon,
honey dew, cantaloupe, banana), mint,
aloe, cactus, cactus fruit.
*Gluten is not harmful, but it does not mean it is beneficial. Gluten is contained
in some grains, which is starchy with carbohydrates, and should be consumed in
moderate or lower amount.
All body types do well with chlorella, chia seed, hemp seed, and spirulina, which
are excellent sources of protein with complete amino acids.
Most people can reduce harmful foods by 70% without harmful effect. This
means one can keep variety of ingredients in meals.
7 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Lesser Yin Sub-Body Type (aka Soeumin)
Harmful Foods Beneficial Foods
gluten (wheat, rye, barley,
oat), adzuki bean, mung
bean, celery, cucumber,
eggplant, basil, oregano,
pork, egg (white and yolk),
strawberry, raspberry,
blackberry, watermelon,
honey dew, cantaloupe,
banana, succulents (aloe
vera, cactus, cactus fruit,
etc.).
gluten free grains in moderation (white
rice, brown rice, millet, quinoa, etc.),
sesame seed, corn, most vegetables,
some terrestrial meats (small to
moderate amount of chicken, lamb,
goat), most fruits (especially apple,
tangerine, orange, lemon, grapefruit),
ginseng, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly,
most spices (ginger, garlic, curry,
thyme, dill, fennel, black pepper,
mustard, turmeric, etc.)
Note: Some Lesser Yins have stomach pains with shellfish. Lesser Yins are not allergic to
corn, but it is starchy. Soy is a legume, which indicates that some Greater Yangs may have
an allergic reaction.
All body types do well with chlorella, chia seed, hemp seed, and spirulina, which
are excellent sources of protein with complete amino acids.
Most people can reduce harmful foods by 70% without harmful effect. This means
one can keep variety of ingredients in meals.
8 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Greater Yang Sub-Body Type (aka Taeyangin)
Harmful foods Beneficial foods
terrestrial meats (animals living on land)
in moderate to large amounts (especially
egg yolk, beef, chicken, lamb, venison,
elk), any dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt,
whey), most root vegetables (radish,
onion, turnip, parsnip, sweet potato,
yam, etc.), oily or fried foods, all nuts
and seeds (peanut, walnut, almond,
cashew, pistachio, macadamia,
sunflower seed, chestnut, pumpkin
seed, etc.), onion, caffeine.
buckwheat, most fruits
(especially cherry, grape,
kiwi), most surficial
vegetables such as lettuce
and all cabbage family
(broccoli, brussels sprouts,
cabbage, cauliflower), some
root vegetables (beet, carrot),
all fish, all shellfish (shrimp,
clam, crab, oyster, sea
urchin, etc.)
All body types do well with chlorella, chia seed, hemp seed, and spirulina, which
are excellent sources of protein with complete amino acids.
Most people can reduce harmful foods by 70% without harmful effect. This
means one can keep variety of ingredients in meals.
9 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Greater Yin Sub-Body Type (aka Taeeumin/Taeumin)
Harmful foods Beneficial foods
all lettuces (romaine,
iceberg, red leaf), all
cabbage family
(broccoli, brussels
sprouts, cabbage,
cauliflower, collards,
kale, kohlrabi, etc.), all
shellfish (shrimp, clam,
crab, oyster, sea
urchin, etc.), *highly
starchy foods (corn,
grains, white potato),
persimmon.
terrestrial meats in small to moderate
amounts, **dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt in
small amounts), legumes, all nuts and seeds
(peanut, walnut, almond, cashew, pistachio,
macadamia, chestnut, sunflower seed, chia
seed, flax seed, pine nut, etc.), many surficial
vegetables (spinach, leek, artichokes,
asparagus, pumpkin, rhubarb, squash,
zucchini, etc.), most root vegetables (radish,
carrot, parsnip, rutabaga, turnip, yam, sweet
potato, onion, maca, taro, lotus root, leek,
jicama, burdock root, etc.), ***seaweed
varieties, most fruits (especially blueberry,
pear, plum), ****coffee.
* Greater Yins do not do well with high carbohydrate diet. Highly starchy foods such as
corn, wheat, rye, barley, and white potato have to be significantly reduced although they
are not allergic or intolerant to them. They should be limited to small amount, while
carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables should be their main source.
** Dairy is beneficial for Greater Yins but a regular consumption in moderate to large
amount will inhibit normal physiology. Many YinYins (Lesser Yin and Greater Yin
combination) do not do well with dairy because Lesser Yin sub-body type aspect tends to
be intolerant to dairy.
*** Seaweed is most beneficial for a YangYin (Greater Yin and Lesser Yang combination).
Some Lesser Yins are intolerant to them.
**** Coffee, and other caffeinated drinks, are beneficial for YangYin (Greater Yin and
Lesser Yang combination) and can have up to two or three servings a day. But both YinYin
(Lesser Yin and Greater Yin combination) and YinYang (Lesser Yin and Greater Yang
combination) are hypersensitive to caffeine with inability to sleep soundly. YangYangs
(Lesser Yang and Greater Yang combination) are not as sensitive as Lesser Yins but will
cause dehydration leading to multiple problems. Limiting caffeine to one serving only in
the morning is suggested.
All body types do well with chlorella, chia seed, hemp seed, and spirulina, which
are excellent sources of protein with complete amino acids.
Most people can reduce harmful foods by 70% without harmful effect. This
means one can keep variety of ingredients in meals.
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Each person is a combination of two of the four body types:
1. Lesser Yang + Greater Yang (~25% of population)
2. Lesser Yang + Greater Yin (~25% of population)
3. Lesser Yin + Greater Yang (~25% of population)
4. Lesser Yin + Greater Yin (~25% of population)
The short names for each of the four body types are:
1. Lesser Yang + Greater Yang = YangYang
2. Lesser Yang + Greater Yin = YangYin
3. Lesser Yin + Greater Yang = YinYang
4. Lesser Yin + Greater Yin = YinYin
The incidence of Lesser Yin is a majority in females (70~75% of all females) and
the incidence of Lesser Yang is a majority in males (70~75% of all males). These
rates can vary from region to region but are a general trend.
A person with a sub-body type Lesser Yang may have either Greater Yang or
Greater Yin as the other sub-body type. Similarly, a person with sub-body type
Lesser Yin may have either Greater Yang or Greater Yin as the other sub-body
type. Impossible combinations are:
1. Lesser Yang + Lesser Yin
2. Greater Yang + Greater Yin
Notice that Lesser Yang and Lesser Yin food lists are opposite to each other.
Greater Yang and Greater Yin are also opposites. This is because these are opposite
body types and they do not co-exist in an individual. A Lesser Yang cannot be a
Lesser Yin. And a person with Greater Yang cannot be a Greater Yin. So a
combination of Lesser Yang with Lesser Yin is not possible. A Greater Yang
combination with Greater Yin is also not possible.
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Body Type Defined
The body type diet system began in earnest by Jema Lee in 1894 as a quest to
simultaneously increase longevity and health. Its accuracy is fueling popularity.
The four body types he proposed are Greater Yin, Greater Yang, Lesser Yin, and
Lesser Yang. Each body type is defined based on the basic Asian philosophy of
yin, yang, and the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Each of these
words having many meanings is advantageous. Health can be dealt with in multiple
ways using foods, which by nature have many facets.
Each person is composed of a fundamental and diverse nature of humanity
but is distinct from others through body type differences. A Greater Yin body
type’s inherent state is an excessive (yang) wood and deficient (yin) metal energies.
Its harmful foods aggravate the imbalance by further increasing the wood and
further decreasing the metal while the beneficial foods do the opposite. Beneficial
foods have a fine tuning effect toward the body’s normal physiology, which
constantly attempts to maintain homeostasis with biochemistry and anatomy. In
the same respect, too much wood and too little metal will disrupt the normal
functioning, creating low-grade problems and increasing susceptibility to diseases.
The three other sub-body types are also born with an imbalance of two of the
five elements, carrying this asymmetry through one’s lifetime. A Greater Yang
body type has deficient (yin) wood and excessive (yang) metal energies, which are
in opposite nature to the Greater Yins. For this reason, both Greater Yangs and
Greater Yins cannot share their food lists. Harmful foods for one is beneficial for
the other, and vice versa.
A Lesser Yang is born with an excessive (yang) earth and a deficient (yin)
water energy. As with other body types, this discrepant state is set and will only be
aggravated over time as we age. Proper foods and avoidance of harmful foods will
enhance the quality, but will not reverse the process. The result of maintaining
health and well-being through food management is still remarkable. A Lesser Yin
has an opposite elemental states of deficient (yin) earth and excessive (yang) water,
making the beneficial foods for Lesser Yang harmful and vice versa.
As the constitutional system has become refined since the 19th century, it is
increasingly apparent that everyone has a paired combination of the above four as
sub-body types, still ending up as four body types.
The four body types are as follows.
1. Lesser Yang + Greater Yin body type
2. Lesser Yang + Greater Yang body type
3. Lesser Yin + Greater Yang body type
4. Lesser Yin + Greater Yin body type
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4 Body Types Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
YangYin, Lesser Yang + Greater Yin
excessive excessive excessive deficient deficient
YangYang, Lesser Yang + Greater Yang
deficient deficient excessive excessive deficient
YinYang, Lesser Yin + Greater Yang
deficient deficient deficient excessive excessive
YinYin, Lesser Yin + Greater Yin
excessive deficient deficient deficient excessive
Excessive and deficient states of the five elements above indicate a basic
innate state of imbalance within each body type. It recognizes each body type
group’s differing needs to maintain good health. No person is in a complete
balanced state. Neither is better than the other since there are both advantages and
disadvantages.
Chapter 2 will have questionnaires and descriptions of the four sub-body
types to help assess which two sub-body types you belong to. A description of how
the constitutions came about is in chapter 3.
Side Effects of Harmful Foods
Note the foods that adversely affect you. The negative side effects of such
foods can include:
bloating
continuous coughing
diarrhea
eczema/skin reaction
headache
heaviness
indigestion
inflammation or raw sensation in
the lips or tongue
nasal discharge
nausea
short of breath
sleepiness
sneezing
tiredness
yawning
The unpleasant effects of some harmful foods are immediately noticeable
even with small amounts. Others are manifested over time or through the process
of elimination. It may be more difficult to notice the positive effects of beneficial
foods because it is easier to recognize discomfort and displeasure. If you are sure
13 copyright © 2013 David Lee
that one or two of the food ingredients in the lists are harmful to you, then the rest
of the foods in the box are also harmful in varying degrees. If you have identified
several ingredients in each of two harmful food lists of the four sub-body type
categories, then you may be that body type combination.
You may have yet to notice the negative impacts of other foods in the same
harmful category. For example, a person who has a known peanut allergy is also
allergic to other nuts and is intolerant to dairy products, although there may be no
perceivable symptoms from eating these. If they are only suspects, then other
identified foods in the same list help to confirm them as harmful as well.
Non-organic and GMO foods can aggravate the effects of already harmful
ingredients or mask the effect of beneficial foods. The modern alteration of foods
has made the foods drastically different, in many cases harmful. They are
genetically altered, creating a potential for many unknown side effects. Many are
void of nutrients. Pesticides used to kill unwanted insects are in turn causing harm
to our bodies. Be mindful of consuming organic and non-GMO foods while testing
the ingredients on yourself.
The positive side effects of consuming beneficial foods are multi-fold. Any
single food item is complex. Even one nutrient has many effects. The goal is to
consume foods that affect the body in many positive ways at once. This holistic
approach has been observed since ancient times and deserves respect. The foods
having the quality as warming, cooling, drying, dampening, draining, and
dispersing is a way to convey the observation of multiple effects of a single food
item under a common thread. Whereas scientific medicine searches understanding
through a specific pathway while attempting to minimize other effects, a holistic
approach looks at the whole picture and provides application to fit the picture. As
many effects as possible are desired as long as they are positive.
The positive side effects of foods are opposite to the negative side effects.
Positive effects of beneficial foods are:
feeling healthier and stronger upright spine, less slouching
Gluten intolerance is often associated with irritable bowel syndrome and is
solely found in Lesser Yin sub-body types. The best solution is to avoid it.
Gluten is a cereal protein mainly found in wheat, rye, barley and to a lesser
degree in oats. Most commonly, it is an autoimmune system reaction that
leads to mal-absorption in the intestines and causes irregular bowel
movement. Other reactions are fatigue, foggy memory, slurred speech,
and arthritic pains. Gluten intolerance is more prevalent in females than in
males.
14 copyright © 2013 David Lee
regulated bowel
sleep more soundly
energy increased
lightness in mind and body
increased stamina
lessened disease symptoms
lessened low grade symptoms
easier to smile and laugh
increased enjoyment
more focused
improved clarity
improved memory
less infections
less experience of stress
Foods and Health
Foods have a strong influence on our health. Apart from providing nutrition
and energy, the health influence of food can be subtle and strong. Beneficial foods
can be used to improve our health—but foods can be detrimental to health if the
ones consumed are wrong for the body type. Benefit or harm occurs depending on
who is consuming it.
Harmful foods have a very subtle impact on most people so there is difficulty
recognizing them as being negative. Even if there are negative symptoms, these
are seen as inconveniences rather than precursors to major diseases. The
unpleasant experience is only the tip of the iceberg; there may be a series of
physiological events that are difficult to identify but nonetheless present.
Personal beliefs or negative experiences unrelated to negative physiological
responses are not a realistic gauge to determine which foods are right for you.
Social, cultural, and psychological factors influence the visual, olfactory, taste and
texture preferences. The body, however, acts independently from these influences,
according to its biological needs.
Some healthy comfort foods are often mistakenly seen as beneficial. Chicken
soup and traditional family dishes have a nostalgic appeal and produce
psychological satisfaction. Just because they are low in calories, not greasy, and
not fattening does not mean they equate to being healthy. They are marginally safe
enough to be widely consumed around the world across many groups for energy
and nutrition. But if they happen to be inappropriate for your body type, then there
will be a temporary or long-term negative consequence.
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Constant, long-term ingestion of even the most commonly consumed foods
will harm the body over time if they are not right for the body type. Consumption
on a daily or near daily basis will compromise the body quicker. The effects are so
subtle and mild that the impact is gradual to the point where the body cannot
process out the harmful foods anymore. They build up over time and wreak havoc,
leading toward sickness and/or aggravating diseases. For this reason, unrecognized
harmful foods can do great harm.
Infants and children are highly sensitive to foods. When the body does not
like certain foods, there is vomiting, diarrhea, eczema, asthma, and nasal discharge.
As they grow older, this defense mechanism becomes dull and we misperceive the
lessening of negative reaction as growing out of them. But the perceived reactions
are only the tip of the iceberg, and underneath there is a harmful impact on the
physiology that manifests itself as diseases later in adults. Childhood diseases and
seemingly harmless discomforts may turn into chronic diseases if ignored.
Nuts, seeds in the nut category, dairy, corn, corn syrup, corn starch, onion,
and chicken are some top harmful foods for the YangYangs (Lesser Yang and
Greater Yang combination). Just by eating chicken regularly, this body type can
aggravate the intensity and frequency of hot flashes related to menopause. It can
also cause chronic fatigue and cause one to become prone to emotional outbursts.
For this reason, one cannot blame ailments on uncontrollable factors. Food is a
significant contributor to our health. Choosing the right type of foods is within our
control.
Because the harmful foods are commonly and regularly consumed, they are
the cause of chronic problems. They are often recurrent infections, seasonal or all-
year-round allergies, stomach pains, irritable bowel symptoms, fatigue, lack of
motivation, difficult focusing, low grade scores, and missing school often.
Stimulants and quick picker-uppers temporarily mask the underlying issues. The
only means of improvement is to minimize or to avoid these foods.
Most of the time, strong adverse effects such as allergic reactions or
anaphylaxis do not occur. Anaphylaxis is characterized by breathing obstruction,
drop in blood pressure, internal bleeding, and shock. Less intense manifestations
are the general subjective experience of pain, along with compromised sleep,
digestion, circulation, stamina, clarity of thought, and general sense of well-being,
and enjoyment of daily activities.
Gluten intolerance is often associated with irritable bowel
symptoms and is solely found in Lesser Yin body types. The
best solution is to avoid it. Gluten is a cereal protein mainly
found in wheat, rye, barley and to a lesser degree in oats.
Most commonly, it is an autoimmune system reaction that
leads to mal-absorption in the intestines and causes
irregular bowel movement. Other reactions are fatigue,
foggy memory, slurred speech, and arthritic pains. Gluten
intolerance is more prevalent in females than in males.
A low carbohydrate diet is especially beneficial for the Greater Yin
body types in combination with Lesser Yang or Lesser Yin.
Consumption of sugar, grains, corn, and white potato should be
sporadic. In addition to increased physical stamina and mental
clarity, many find that just lowering simple carbohydrates reduces
symptoms of chronic diseases such as yeast infections,
migraines, asthma, high blood glucose and sinus congestion.
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Even with proper medical treatments, avoidance of harmful foods is often
essential for a successful recovery. So if you have unexplained subjective
symptoms of general malaise, bloating, fatigue, and headache, then begin
eliminating harmful foods from your diet. Minimizing or eliminating medical
intervention is possible through good diet that promotes health and well-being.
Although age and propensity are factors in maintaining good health, most
people do not have optimal health because the bodies break down prematurely.
Many chronic diseases occur in later years but are not unavoidable if one sticks to
the body type diet. Foods have a large role in maintaining optimal health for one’s
age. Just by adjusting to one’s own needs, there can be significant improvement
and greater stability. The ability to buffer from daily stressors is then maximized.
Meals come in innumerable combinations, amounts, and varieties so there is
almost no opportunity to test one food at a time. If we could eat one food item at a
time as a meal, then the task of distinguishing harmful from beneficial would be
much simpler. A practical method is to repeat the same ingredient at each normal
meal for several days to identify the harmful food. Most processed foods found in
groceries or restaurants are not prepared for any body type. These combinations
make us constantly exposed to inappropriate ingredients. Healthy combinations of
food for each body type is not feasible outside of home, especially for the
YangYang body type (Greater Yang and Lesser Yang combination). They may
have to resort to preparing their own meals.
Asian medicine is holistic and the foods are studied in whole forms as they
affect the body in multiple ways. It is a one-food-fits-whole type of approach.
Scientific findings are helping to confirm the relationship between body types and
the harmful foods. Specific ingredients found in foods such as gluten, lactose,
casein, and corn protein contribute to understanding the mechanism of how
molecular components act against normal body physiology.
The harmful foods do not have to be avoided altogether. We have eaten most
of the foods listed above at one time or another, with minimal negative impacts.
Consuming manageable amounts of harmful food is acceptable as long as the body
can render them harmless. The prevalence of hidden harmful foods makes it
difficult to eliminate them from our diet. Making significant changes is therefore
An eight year old child came home from school at least 3 times a month
with stomach cramps and severe allergic rhinitis. These symptoms were a daily
occurrence since infancy. Skin and blood allergy tests did not reveal any
possible food culprit. As a YangYang body type (Lesser Yang + Greater Yang
combination), the harmful foods were requested to be significantly reduced
or eliminated. At the end of three weeks, 90% of symptoms were gone. By this
time, most of the harmful food items were not present in the body. The
improved state maintained as long as the diet for the body type was observed.
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sufficient and practical.
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Food Amount vs. Food Type
More does not mean better. Having a buffet style meal everyday leads to
indigestion and overworking the body. Overeating beneficial foods will also do the
same. Avoiding harmful foods may reduce the food choices, but many varieties
are still available. A lack of nutrients should be of no concern. Antioxidants,
vitamins, fiber, trace minerals, and other nutrients are all necessary for the proper
functioning of human body. Our bodies know how to utilize the nutrients in foods
optimally when they are comfortable with the whole food that is being ingested.
So the food items are just as important as the nutrients contained within. Foods
that are good for the body type enhance the vital role in health, which includes
memory, longevity, mood, circulation, maintenance, homeostasis, recuperation,
and immune responsiveness.
A combination of aloe and cactus can reduce the blood glucose in
diabetics. These are beneficial for the Lesser Yang body type
combined with Greater Yin or Greater Yang. Along with the low
carbohydrate diet, a quarter cup of aloe, and a quarter cup of cactus
per day can create a dramatic lessening of blood glucose within a
few days or weeks. This is also helpful for other conditions such as
chronic bladder infection, prostatitis, acid reflux, intestinal
inflammation, and constipation. If your blood glucose does not fall or
even rises with these ingredients, then you may be a Lesser Yin body
type. Also, aloe and cactus may cause abdominal bloating and
cramping in Lesser Yins.
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Detoxification and Weight Control
Excessive eating and accumulation of harmful substances necessitate routine
detoxification. The overload burdens the body’s normal functioning and defense
mechanisms. Many of us need to release the excess from flesh, circulatory system,
and organs. Those with intractable diseases such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, and
cancer notice improvement, while others with lesser discomforts can use a
detoxification diet for prevention. On average, a detoxification diet every
three months for a period of one week should be sufficient if you are already on a
healthy body type diet.
The detoxification diet consists of fruits and vegetables. The kinds are
different for each of the four body types. Combining two of the four food
categories listed below works best because every person is composed of two body
types. The symptoms of improvement include more energy, curved appetite, and
improvement of diseases.
Lesser Yang Body Type
Blackberry, watermelon, honey dew, cantaloupe, cucumber, celery, eggplant,
mung bean, mung bean sprouts, and strawberries.
Lesser Yin Body Type
Soy bean, maple syrup, apple, orange, pomegranate, and lemon. Hot spices such
as cayenne pepper, garlic, black pepper, chili pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, and
ginger.
(Some Lesser Yins have sensitive stomach with spices manifesting as abdominal
cramping or acid reflux. If so, the spices should be introduced in small amounts
over time to desensitize the body. The abdominal discomfort will go away and the
health benefits of these ingredients will take place.)
Greater Yang Body Type
Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, iceberg lettuce, white grapes,
cherry, kiwi, kale, romaine lettuce, and leafy greens.
Greater Yin Body Type
Pears, plums, onion, nuts, legume, leeks, pumpkin and squash. Root vegetables
such as burdock, carrot, turnip, parsnip, radish, maca, taro, jicama, rutabaga,
platycodon, sweet potato, lotus root, and yam.
Avoid animal meat, greasy foods, and grains while on this diet. The amount
and calories should equate to regular meals. They can be prepared raw or cooked
in a combination that is tasteful to you. But at least half the ingredients should be
raw to prevent destruction of some essential nutrients cooked in high heat. Do not
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continue if you experience dizziness, severe weakness, or allergic symptoms. If
these food selections are too limited for you, then the regular avoidance of harmful
foods is still sufficient to gently detoxify. This will eliminate the need for routine
detoxifying diet. In addition, consuming low animal protein and sticking to mainly
fruits and vegetables will add quality years to your health and life.
Plant source proteins such as chia seed, quinoa, hemp seed, and chlorella are
excellent and are neutral for all body types. Spirulina, a cyanobacteria, is also an
optimal source of protein.
A patient who is a Greater Yin + Lesser Yang combination,
experiences chronic fatigue and difficulty losing weight. Along with
common low carbohydrate diet, a heap of salad and smoothies consisting
of lettuce and cabbage varieties were a regular daily consumption. This
diet would have been invigorating for the Greater Yang body type. After
the correct food list was introduced as a YangYin body type (Greater Yin
+ Lesser Yang combination), the patient gradually regained energy while
seeing steady decline of weight.
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Chapter 2 Body Type Diagnosis
Importance of Body Typing
There are many differences in the physical frame, physiology, and psychology
that make us unique individuals. There are also common threads in the diverse
genes that make some people respond in identical ways to certain stimuli. The
word constitution, or body type, is a term used to group together and to distinguish
a pool of individuals according to certain relevant and recurring similarities in their
inherited qualities.
Each constitution progresses toward and responds to identical diseases
differently. For this reason, the one-size-fits-all approach cannot be applied in
medicine. Side effects attest to the fact that human physiology is not identical
across the population. While many will improve, others will only slightly improve,
and still others will experience no improvement along with severe side effects.
Therefore, there is a need to provide individualized treatments while treating the
diseases themselves. Medicine evolves to better recognize and deal with the human
variation. It strives to understand the disease etiologies, to avoid unnecessary
applications, and to apply correct treatments.
Constitutional medicine is the missing link that helps us understand the
response variations to diseases and treatments. It takes inborn variation as the chief
consideration before deciding on the treatment of the disease. Identifying the
normal states and the congenital imbalances of the individual provides customized
treatments. As a result, the desired outcome is easier to achieve and is more reliable.
Body Typing in Four Constitutional Medicine
Each of the four body types in the Four Constitutional Medicine has
distinctive traits from another—physiologically, pathologically, and
psychologically. These traits manifest in the outer physical appearance, body
functions and personalities.
The following conditions listed are designed for an easy determination of your
body type. You may find items on one list that more strongly reflect you than
another. If so, they may describe your body type. First, match yourself against the
Greater Yang and Greater Yin sub-body types. After identifying the one that is
overall more similar to you, go onto the next two lists, which are Lesser Yang and
Lesser Yin sub-body types. The two lists with the highest running total may be
your body type.
Any sub-body type traits can occur in all the body types, but it is more likely
to appear in its pertaining body type. Everyone can develop the symptoms on the
list at one time or another. This is because we all have varying propensities to
manifest these symptoms. Instead of linking the traits to one or two specific
incidences, observe yourself across many situations by placing yourself in the third
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person and measuring yourself against the general population. Then decide where
your tendency lies. If unsure, do not mark the boxes.
Influences of cultural, social, and personal background make some elements
of the list difficult to understand, vague, or misleading. However, the number of
questions is expansive enough for you to determine your body type. The detailed
explanation of the questionnaire in the next section is helpful in clarifying its
meaning. Comprehensive examination by an experienced Four Constitutional
Medicine practitioner can help confirm your body type diagnosis.
Greater Yang and Greater Yin sub-body types are opposite to each other in
physiology and in mental processes. Lesser Yang and Lesser Yin sub-body types
also have opposite characteristics. Although we are all human, the way each
individual’s body works is different. Try to understand your body type in relation
to your healthy state, not when you were sick or fighting an illness.
There are no preferable or advantageous body types. Each has its own
strengths and weaknesses. Like two sides of a coin, each body type has positive
traits, as well as undesirable characteristics. Human bodies are complex and
dynamic. What can be disadvantageous in one situation can be highly desirable in
another.
Some descriptions of body type characteristics are stereotypical to convey a
clearer picture. Objectively evaluate yourself against the body type characteristics
and see where your tendencies lie.
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Lesser Yang (a) and Lesser Yin (b) Questionnaire
Note: The following descriptions pertaining to questions 1 to 18 apply to 100% of the population. About half the population fits one characteristic and the other half fits the opposite. If one description does not apply to you, then the other one does. For each question, you need to check one of the two choices; do not leave them blank.
Oftentimes, both answers to each question may be correct, depending on specific situations, but determine which one describes you the most accurately. With the exception of questions 19-24, the following descriptions are conditions based on your healthy state in the absence of any disease or ailment.
1a. I find myself almost never skipping meals. If I skip a meal, I get easily
agitated and irritated.
b. I often find myself forgetting to eat meals. I skip meals regularly and
do not feel strong hunger pangs on an empty stomach.
2a. I cannot eat slowly. In a group of 10 people, I am one of the first three
to finish a meal.
b. I eat slowly. In a group of 10 people, I am one of the last three to
finish a meal.
3a. I am not picky with foods. I tend to try new dishes and flavors.
b. I am finicky with foods. There are many food items or dishes I avoid or
refuse to try.
4a. I like mint flavored gum or candy more than cinnamon.
b. I like cinnamon flavored gum or candy more than mint.
5a. Generally, I find myself rushing to accomplish tasks at the last
moment, instead of in step-by-step increments.
b. Generally, I do my tasks in step-by-step increments.
6a. It is a challenge to keep a regular diary.
b. I do keep or can keep a regular diary.
7a. I prefer to live without a daily schedule on my phone or organizer.
b. I cannot imagine living a smooth life without a daily schedule on my
phone or organizer.
8a. It is cumbersome to keep track of detailed information, and I am not
detail-oriented.
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b. I am good at paying attention to minute details; I do not mind it being
a requirement of my career.
9a. My room is often disorganized but I can easily find what I need.
b. My room is usually organized and I cannot think clearly if it is messy.
10a. I am usually the first person to try something new, rather than relying
on someone else to be a guinea pig.
b. I would rather have somebody else try something new before I do. I
am usually not the first to try.
11a. I have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) or a mild form of
it.
b. I have obsessive-compulsive disorder or a mild form of it.
12a. When I was a baby, I generally slept through the night.
b. When I was a baby, I woke up often during the night.
13a. I can sleep anywhere and sleep deeply.
b. I am finicky about where I sleep and am a light sleeper.
14a. When I am extremely tired, I fall asleep very easily.
b. When I am extremely tired, I find it difficult to fall asleep.
15a. Caffeine generally does not affect my sleep.
b. Caffeine will cause insomnia if I drink it after 3:00 pm.
16a. Even in cold weather, I cannot sleep with a blanket over my face; I
feel confined.
b. In cold weather, I often like to sleep with a blanket over my face.
17a. My hands and feet are usually warm. When they get cold, they quickly
warm back up.
b. My hands and feet get cold easily and tend to stay cold.
18a. Drinking ice water does not cause cramps or bloating. I can drink it all
day.
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b. Drinking ice water causes cramping or bloating. It occurs immediately
or after a few days of consistently drinking it.
19a. I had a soy allergy as an infant or as an adult which might have
ranged from skin itching or to anaphylactic shock.
19b. Intentionally left blank.
20a. I am allergic or have intolerance to corn. Corn starch and syrup cause
arthritic pains and fatigue.
20b. I have gluten intolerance. Wheat products make me bloated or cause
symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
21a. Intentionally left blank.
21b. I’ve always had thick hair. I have many follicles on my scalp that
contain two or three hair roots. My hair density is in the top 20
percentile of the population.
22a. Intentionally left blank.
22b. I have a history of being anemic (mild to severe) or am prone to
anemia.
23a. Intentionally left blank.
23b. I am or was diagnosed with gastroparesis, which is the slow emptying
of food from the stomach into the small intestine.
24a. Intentionally left blank.
24b. I am or was diagnosed with Raynaud’s phenomenon, a condition of
extreme coldness and discoloration of the fingers and toes due to lack
of proper blood circulation.
Note: Having had celiac disease (gluten intolerance), gastroparesis, and/or
Raynaud’s phenomenon in severe form increases the likelihood of being a
Lesser Yin by 95%. A confirmed medical diagnosis of corn allergy
likewise makes the likelihood of being a Lesser Yang by the same
percentage.
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Greater Yang (c) and Greater Yin (d) Questionnaire
Note: The following descriptions from questions 1 to 21 apply to 100% of the
population. About half the population fits one characteristic and the other half fits
the opposite. For each question, you need to choose one of the two descriptions;
do not leave any blank.
Oftentimes, both answers to each question may be correct, depending on specific situations, but determine which one describes you the most accurately. With the exception of question 22, the following descriptions are conditions based on your healthy state.
1c. I find steaks to be heavy and take a long time to digest. My bowels
are often affected. I do not like the sensation from eating a high
protein diet, which makes me feel heavy, tired, and bloated.
d. I do not find steaks to be heavy. I digest them quickly and my bowels
do not change. I benefit from a high protein diet, which results in
weight loss, and an increase in energy, focus, and clarity.
2c. I find greasy or fried foods to be heavy and take a long time to
digest. My bowels are often easily affected.
d. I do not find greasy or fried foods to be heavy. I digest them quickly
and my bowels do not change.
3c. I get motion sickness easily, such as on boats or airplanes. I cannot
read a book as a passenger in a car for more than five minutes.
d. I do not get motion sickness easily, such as on boats or airplanes. I
can read a book as a passenger in a car for more than 15 minutes.
4c. I am lactose intolerant or allergic to milk products. I experience
increased nasal discharge, bloating, and or a change in bowel
function after drinking a glass of milk.
d. I am not allergic to milk products. I do not feel bloated or have a
change in bowel movement. I can drink two glasses of milk every
day without symptoms.
5c. My sense of hearing is keener than my sense of smell.
d. My sense of smell is keener than my sense of hearing.
6c. I feel light headed or dizzy when I have a strong mint taste, such as
mint-flavored gum, in my mouth for more than 10 minutes.
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d. I do not feel light headed or dizzy when I have a strong mint taste,
such as mint-flavored gum, in my mouth for more than 10 minutes
7c. I do not like perfume or strong odors. They sometimes give me a
headache or make me feel dizzy.
d. I am not bothered by perfume or strong odors.
8c. Regardless of the quality, my voice is middle- to high-pitched.
d. Regardless of the quality, my voice is middle- to low-pitched.
9c. I would rather be warm than cold.
d. I would rather be cold than warm.
10c. I have difficulty ignoring a nagging pain and it affects my activities.
d. When I am distracted, I often forget I have a nagging pain.
11c. I feel uncomfortable wearing a turtleneck or a scarf around my neck,
even in cooler weather. I use it as a fashion statement only.
d. I feel comfortable wearing a scarf or turtleneck around my neck in
cooler weather. I often wear them as a fashion statement.
12c. I get bothered if I wear a hat all day.
d. Wearing a hat makes me feel comfortable and cozy. I can wear a hat
all day long.
13c. I do not like to talk or to sing for a long time because my voice tends
to get hoarse easily.
d. I can talk or sing for a long time. My voice does not get hoarse easily
and my throat is not affected.
14c. I do not like strenuous physical activities. I have to put in extra effort.
d. I like physical activities that require strength or stamina.
15c. My shoes tend to last a long time and stay in pristine shape.
d. My shoes tend to break down easily, especially on the sides.
16c. I cannot stay awake all night to finish a project.
d. I can stay up all night to finish a project.
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17c. I prefer to sit and do not like to stand for a long time.
d. I can stand for a long time and do not need to sit.
18c. I am a night person. I tend to stay up late and get up late.
d. I am a morning person. I go to bed early and get up early.
19c. I tend to act first and plan as I go along.
d. I tend to think things through thoroughly and plan before acting.
20c. I am uneasy at heights and it takes time for me to adjust.
d. I have no problem with heights and can work in high places with
relative ease.
21c. I am allergic to nuts. I have one or more symptoms of scratchy
throat, itchy skin, sneezing, throat swelling, or post-nasal drip if/when
I consume them.
d. I am allergic to shellfish (shrimp, clams, mussels). I have one or
more symptoms of scratchy throat, swelling in the mouth, or itchy
skin if/when I consume them.
22c. Intentionally left blank.
d. I have/had gallstones.
Note: If you have a life-threatening allergy to nuts and need to carry an
epinephrine pen, then you have a 95% likelihood of being a Greater Yang. If you
have a life-threatening allergy to shellfish, then you have a 95% likelihood of
being a Greater Yin. But an intolerance of shellfish expressed as cramping or
irritable bowel syndrome may indicate a Lesser Yin. Removal of the gall bladder
due to gall stones impacting the bile duct makes a 80% likelihood of being a
Greater Yin. But an atrophy of the gall bladder without the presence of gall
stones does not indicate a Greater Yin.
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total count total count
Lesser Yang (a)
Greater Yang (c)
Lesser Yin (b)
Greater Yin (d)
Now that you have marked the boxes that apply to you, tally up the
numbers. The two boxes with the highest total count indicate your combination.
A difference between the totals of your two sub-body types of four or less may
not provide an accurate diagnosis. Note: about 30% of people answering the
questionnaire misdiagnose themselves.
You are one of the four following combinations:
A Greater Yang and Lesser Yang combination is called YangYang.
A Greater Yang and + Lesser Yin combination is called YangYin.
A Greater Yin + Lesser Yang combination is called YinYang.
And a Greater Yin + Lesser Yin combination is called YinYin.
Note: Severe, tortuous varicose veins in the legs indicate a 90% likelihood of
being a YinYin. Those who are highly sensitive to trace amounts of artificial
food additives and chemicals, manifesting as severe headaches, fatigue, and
irritable bowel syndrome, are also likely a YinYin by the same percentage.
30 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Lesser Yang and Lesser Yin Descriptions
Questions 1-3 and 23:
These questions relate to foods, and the manifestations are multifold. The
sensation of hunger is slower to develop in Lesser Yins than in Lesser Yangs.
The reason may be that the digestive system of Lesser Yangs can break down
food more easily, and their metabolism generally is faster. Usually, once the food
empties from the stomach into the small intestine and then to the large intestine,
the hunger sensation sets in. Lesser Yangs are more efficient with this digestive
process, so naturally the feeling of hunger is quicker and more intense.
This same sensation in Lesser Yins does not register with the brain as
quickly. When Lesser Yins are occupied with a project, they may skip meals or
forget to eat entirely. Their hunger pangs are not strong enough to remind them
to eat. Lesser Yangs, on the other hand, rarely go without eating even if they are
busy. The appetite of Lesser Yangs is also relatively unaffected when they are
sick or depressed; they can still eat normal amounts of food. When they do not
feel well, Lesser Yins may experience decreased appetite or may even vomit.
Those who catch the stomach flu recurrently are often Lesser Yins.
Gastroparesis, which is a slow motility of the stomach resulting in delayed
emptying of foods into the small intestine, is almost always an issue with Lesser
Yins.
Lesser Yangs tend to eat faster. They can digest foods well and are not as
concerned about indigestion. They may also be physically able to swallow easier
with little gag reflex. The ability to swallow is a built-in reflex independent of the
size of the person. Participants in eating competitions are often Lesser Yangs.
Along with an ability to swallow quickly, their tendencies to appreciate meals
with their eyes and quickly register taste are often enough to satisfy them. The
result is a developed habit of eating quickly, which they have difficulty breaking.
Many Lesser Yangs do not realize that they have overeaten until half an hour
later, when the brain recognizes that they are full.
Many Lesser Yins have a strong gag reflex. If a taste is strange, it can easily
trigger nausea or vomiting. The accidental slip of the toothbrush into the back of
the mouth can also trigger a gag reflex. Many Lesser Yins develop a habit of
chewing at least twenty times before swallowing to make sure the foods are
broken down enough for their sensitive stomachs to handle. Also, Lesser Yins
tend to eat with more emphasis on taste and texture, taking time to savor these
qualities, and therefore taking time to swallow.
Although it may be true for anyone, Lesser Yins tend to have a narrow list
of preferred foods that they will eat. They are often picky eaters and will
eliminate many common foods from their diet. They are put off by strange
textures, unusual flavors, and unappetizing appearances. Trying a new dish is not
easy for them and they may vomit if forced to eat foods they do not like.
Question 4
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Lesser Yins tend to avoid spicy foods because of their sensitive stomachs
and tongues, but these items are beneficial to the body. Lesser Yins have
“coldness” in their abdomen; warm foods provide relief. Symptoms from mild
discomfort to chronic digestive diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome and
acid reflux disease, can be treated with spicy foods. Helicobacter pylori is
considered the cause of stomach ulcers, but this may be because the person’s
stomach also creates an environment for the bacteria to thrive. Spices help
maintain a favorable digestive environment for Lesser Yins. They get significant
relief from common spices, such as cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, and cayenne
pepper.
Although spicy foods are not good for Lesser Yangs, they tend to be fond of
them because their stomachs are not as sensitive as Lesser Yins, and they like the
stimulation. Because of this, they may mistakenly regard spices as beneficial.
However, Lesser Yangs have “heat” in their abdomen, so spicy foods actually
harm them over time. The easiest way to see if spicy foods are beneficial is to
keep cinnamon-flavored candies or other spices in the mouth for a long time.
Some Lesser Yangs experience raw, tender sensations on the tip of tongue or a
vague discomfort in the head.
Questions 5-11
These questions are related to a cautious nature, which is higher in Lesser
Yins than in Lesser Yangs. Not all Lesser Yins are cautious by nature as
described in this section, but some are obsessive about it. Lesser Yins are more
detail-oriented; they prefer to do tasks step-by-step to ensure that they achieve
the desired result. As a precaution, they double-check their work. They start early
and do not like to begin projects at the last moment. For this same reason, some
consistently arrive early for appointments or meetings.
Some Lesser Yins are deliberately slow, and speeding up to a moderate pace
tends to increase unforced errors in their work. They may know answers to
examination questions, for example, but still finish slower than others. They are
not easily bothered by jobs or tasks that involve repetition. Paying attention to
detail is part of their nature. Consequently, jobs that require minimal changes or
slow transitions are ideal for them.
Many Lesser Yins turn note-taking into an art form. Their pages are neatly
written and well organized. There are rarely cross-outs or erase marks, and their
handwriting is legible. Files are habitually kept in order and are marked properly.
Self-reflection in diary form is common.
Lesser Yangs are not as cautious as Lesser Yins. They tend to wait until the
last minute to begin a task because it is difficult for them to attend to lengthy
projects. They would rather not spend additional time working on a project if
they do not have to. They see the end first and become impatient if the process is
slow. They thrive on jobs or careers that are dynamic and require adaptability.
They are often late for appointments or meetings because they tend to
underestimate travel time and do not anticipate possible delays.
32 copyright © 2013 David Lee
To Lesser Yangs, taking notes is a hassle that they often view as
unnecessary. They are aware that keeping an organizer is a good idea but are not
consistent about doing so. Maintaining an updated schedule is not part of their
nature. They will abandon a diary or a planner after a short while.
Some Lesser Yangs seem to function comfortably with a messy desk or in a
disorganized room. They may appear to thrive in it due to multi-tasking. Lesser
Yangs shift from one interest to another frequently, so many tasks are left
unfinished. They move on to other activities, planning to finish the first task later.
Although people of any body type might be untidy during their teenage years,
some Lesser Yins keep their rooms uncluttered during this time as well.
Extreme cases of these behaviors can be categorized as disorders; these are
usually found in Lesser Yins. They suffer more frequently from obsessive
compulsive disorder. This is often accompanied by anxiety and depression
because they are constantly striving for perfection. At the other extreme, Lesser
Yangs tend toward hyperactivity with attention deficit disorder. They are
characterized by an inability to stay on task, sit still, be organized, and they have
a compulsion to touch things.
Questions 12-15
These questions are related to sleep. Lesser Yins have more sleep problems
than Lesser Yangs. Lesser Yins are particular about where they rest and are slow
to adjust to new surroundings as they may cause uneasiness. This leads to
difficulty falling or staying asleep. A minor worry or excessive fatigue can also
prevent restful sleep. In extreme cases, some have insomnia without an apparent
reason. This can develop at an early age for Lesser Yins; as babies they tend to
be more alert or easier to wake than others. Because they do not sleep deeply,
they are also more fretful. As adults, consumption of a caffeinated beverage in
the afternoon can cause disrupted sleep in Lesser Yins.
Many Lesser Yangs, especially of the Greater Yin + Lesser Yang
combination, often develop a habit of drinking several cups of coffee a day, and
can drink a serving of caffeine and still fall asleep within an hour.
Questions 16 and 17
These questions are related to the ability to produce metabolic heat. Lesser
Yangs, with their higher metabolism, will burn off calories more readily; this
keeps their bodies and extremities warmer. Lesser Yangs tend to get hungry
easily and eat frequently. Lesser Yangs rarely have cold hands and feet. Because
of their warm bodies, extra exhalation of heat from the mouth and emanation of
heat from the face make Lesser Yangs dislike having their faces covered.
Lesser Yins have a slower metabolism and their body temperatures do not
run as warm as Lesser Yangs. Because of its inability to produce sufficient heat,
the body tries to concentrate it within the torso, so the extremities are the first to
show signs of coldness and are slow to warm up. In cold weather, Lesser Yins
attempt to conserve heat by wearing socks to bed. Some wear socks every night
33 copyright © 2013 David Lee
throughout the winter and even cover their faces and heads with a blanket. An
extreme case for a Lesser Yin is Raynaud’s phenomenon, where the skin
becomes smooth, tight, pale, and is constantly cold to the touch. Cold abdominal
skin does not distinguish body type because it can occur in both Lesser Yins and
Lesser Yangs.
The ability to retain body heat distinguishes Greater Yins from Greater
Yangs. Because Greater Yangs have thinner skin, which releases heat more
readily, they get chilled more easily than Greater Yins. Also, the thicker skin in
Greater Yins causes dulling of the nerve endings and therefore lessens sensitivity
to cold. Individuals with the Greater Yin + Lesser Yang combination have the
warmest bodies and feel hot most easily. Conversely, individuals with the
Greater Yang + Lesser Yin combination have the coldest bodies and feel chilled
most easily.
Questions 18 and 19
These questions are related to the effect of cold-natured foods and drinks on the
body and digestive system, as they can quantitatively lower a person’s body
temperature. Although fats, proteins, and carbohydrates produce heat as a by-
product of metabolism, there are other nutrients that contribute to the cooling of
the body. Foods are not only for daily function and maintenance; over the long-
term, one may see changes in their physiology. Qualitative cold-inducing foods
may or may not lower a body temperature, but they will disrupt its normal
function, most notably in the digestive system.
Cold-temperature drinks lower body temperature and ability to digest foods
in Lesser Yins. Many Lesser Yins find that ice cold drinks cause stomach
cramping or bloating. It is infrequent for Lesser Yangs to experience this. For
Lesser Yins, warm or hot water with meals aids digestion. If an individual is
certain about the negative effect of cold water on his/her digestive system, the
person is likely a Lesser Yin. Many Lesser Yangs can consume cold drinks
throughout the day and will not be affected at all. A negative response from cold
foods or drinks is the only symptom that can be used to indicate a Lesser Yin
body type. A positive response or no negative effect is not a definite indicator of
a Lesser Yang. Even without the digestive system being affected, Lesser Yin
vegetarians experience most notable lowered body temperature.
The quality ‘cold’ is a functional property in the digestive system of Lesser
Yins that makes them prone to indigestion. “Cold-natured” foods can cause
digestive problems, such as stomach cramps, indigestion, bowel changes, and
bloating. Strong cold-inducing foods are watermelon, cucumber, and gluten
found in wheat, rye, and barley. It has long been known in Eastern medicine that
wheat has a cooling property whereas rice is warming. This is because of gluten,
a protein composite in the wheat and related grains, which causes celiac disease,
fatigue, and foggy mental capacity in many Lesser Yins, but not in Lesser Yangs.
Many Lesser Yangs do not have trouble eating these foods regularly, while
Lesser Yins develop problems with them. Antibiotics are also viewed as cold-
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natured in Asian medicine. Those who respond slowly to antibiotics or have an
allergic reaction are likely Lesser Yins.
35 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Greater Yang and Greater Yin Descriptions
Questions 1 and 2
These questions are related to the body’s ability to detoxify itself from heavy
foods through liver function and cellular metabolism. Heavy foods are highly
concentrated and take longer to break down. Examples of these are fried foods,
nuts, meats, dairy, eggs, and beans. Avocados and olive oils are popular
alternative oils, but are still heavy. Although bodies can get used to eating these
foods over time, there is still an innate difference between the Greater Yang and
Greater Yin body types in the amount that can be consumed.
One extreme end of the population can handle a high protein diet well, the
Greater Yins. These people tout a low carbohydrate diet consisting mostly of
meat, dairy, nuts, and legumes with a positive experience of weight loss,
increased energy, mental focus, and mental clarity. If they eat foods consisting
primarily of surficial vegetables, especially lettuce and cabbage varieties, then
they find that their minds become sluggish, causing difficulty focusing, and even
decreased stamina. Many Greater Yins dislike vegetables and leafy greens in
particular. Young children react more easily with hypersensitivity to the taste and
smell of particular foods. You may remember as a child which foods you found
comforting and enjoyable, and also which foods you disliked.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are Greater Yangs, who can handle a
low animal protein diet for a long period of time. They feel healthy, their bodies
feel light, and they enjoy emotional well-being. They are comfortable with a diet
consisting mostly of vegetables and fruits. Consumption of small amount of
meats, eggs, and/or dairy satisfy their need for protein. Greater Yangs are not
necessarily vegetarians, however. But they find heavy foods take a longer time to
digest and a large amount of them can be quite taxing on the digestive system.
They experience abdominal bloating, sluggishness, difficulty focusing, and
sleepiness. A meal consisting of a hamburger and fries or a breakfast of sausage,
eggs, and bacon can ruin the whole day.
The ability to handle heavy foods is directly related to the body’s ability to
detoxify, purging harmful chemicals in general. Greater Yins tend to tolerate
prescription medications well and experience the desired result with fewer side
effects. Their bodies can also handle strong medications and surgical procedures
more easily than Greater Yangs because of their high pain tolerance. For these
reasons, Greater Yins tend to find Western medical care effective. Many Greater
Yangs are very sensitive to over-the-counter and prescription medications. Some
react well by taking less than the recommended dosage. Overall, they are more
susceptible to drug side effects, even with a low to moderate dose.
However, allergic-intolerant reactions occur most frequently in YinYins
(Lesser Yin + Greater Yin combination). For them, it is less about an ability to
detoxify, instead pointing to an allergic-intolerant reaction. Rather than
defaulting to a higher dosage, small amount of some chemicals can create
abdominal bloating, arthritic pain, fatigue, fibromyalgic pain, headache, nausea,
36 copyright © 2013 David Lee
and skin rash. Frequent causes are medications and artificial food additives, such
as coloring, flavoring, preservatives, and stabilizers. The unexplained
discomforts are so strong that they have the most difficulty eating out at
restaurants.
Question 3
This question pertains to motion sickness. Common symptoms are dizziness,
fatigue, and nausea. They may be caused by repeated speeding up and slowing
down in a vehicle. A simple way of testing whether or not you are prone to
motion sickness is to consult a map or to read a book while riding as a passenger
in a car traveling over a smooth, straight road. Since susceptibility to motion
sickness is an inborn trait, it is an indication of a body type. For some Greater
Yangs, slight random movements can immediately trigger the uncomfortable
symptoms of motion sickness. Even if they train themselves to control these
symptoms, the conditioning is quickly lost. Those who remember getting motion
sick as a child but seem to have outgrown it are still likely Greater Yangs.
The triggering mechanism in the brain and the inner ear’s sensitivity to
movements may be less apparent in Greater Yins. These people naturally have
greater strength in the abdominal and intercostal muscles, which lessens the
symptoms of motion sickness by helping the torso hold steady. Many Greater
Yins can read a book in a moving vehicle for more than 15 minutes at a time,
while most Greater Yangs have difficulty reading for more than five minutes
without experiencing motion sickness.
Those who are comfortable in high-heeled shoes and prefer to wear them all
day are also Greater Yins. The reasoning is the same as with motion sickness;
they are better able to hold themselves steady and stable.
Question 4
Milk intolerance tends to occur in Greater Yang body types. There are two
main ingredients identified in milk that trigger symptoms: the sugar lactose and
the protein casein, which are found in cow, goat, sheep, and human milk. Some
Greater Yang babies display intolerance to their mother’s milk, which manifests
as incessant crying, diarrhea, and rashes. The majority of Greater Yangs begin to
develop intolerance after the age of five. This tolerance can persist throughout
life, but its effect will quickly disappear if dairy is removed from their diet.
Lactose is more commonly the culprit that causes indigestion, gas, bloating,
and a change in bowel habits. Lactose free milk is popular with those who are
intolerant of this complex sugar. A person who is sensitive to lactose is very
likely also intolerant of casein, and vice versa. Greater Yangs do not do well with
lactose-free dairy products because casein needs to be removed as well.
Removing or minimizing dairy altogether from the diet and finding a
replacement source for calcium is necessary for these individuals.
Many Greater Yangs are not aware of the symptoms of intolerance of dairy
products and nuts but have chronic hay fever that is triggered by environmental
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allergens, such as dander, odor, mold, dust, and pollen. The constant presence of
dairy or nuts in one’s diet makes the body’s immune system hypersensitive and
makes otherwise mild environmental irritants become major triggering
mechanisms.
Many Greater Yins do not develop a deficiency in the enzyme lactase,
which helps break down the lactose sugar in milk, even into adulthood. By age
five, 90% of the enzyme lactase is no longer present in the digestive tracts of
most people, but those who quickly regain it with regular consumption of dairy
products are likely the Greater Yin body type.
Question 5
Greater Yins have a stronger sense of smell, both physically and mentally,
than the Greater Yangs. They seem to be hard-wired with more olfactory nerves
to the brain. The subtlety of taste discrimination lies in the nose picking up odors
and working in conjunction with the tongue. Many are comfortable in the field of
food connoisseurship. They are cooks and critics of fine foods and drinks.
Greater Yins tend to associate memories and mental processes with the
sense of smell. They often use scent related words to describe situations, events,
and people. These include words that describe the odors, aromas, scents, and
flavors that they experience. For example, the figurative expression “I can smell
a pig from a mile away,” indicates the way this person places value and
importance of this particular sense into the process of thought.
On the other hand, Greater Yangs tend to have a keen sense of hearing and
can “hear a pin drop.” They have difficulty falling asleep at night if there is even
a small noise, such as water dripping, or if their partner snores or tosses and
turns.
If both of your senses are keen or dull, try to determine which is relatively
stronger than the other.
Questions 6 and 7
These relate to influences by strong or stimulating odors. Many Greater Yangs
find mint flavored candies and gums difficult to tolerate after a few minutes.
They get dizzy or experience headaches if these are kept in the mouth for too
long. The spicy flavor from mint is not the actual cause, but it tends to stimulate
the olfactory nerves too strongly and creates an overwhelming sensation in the
head. Perfumes and colognes also have the same negatively stimulating effects.
A light exposure or a small whiff can cause extremely sensitive Greater Yangs to
react with additional symptoms, such as hay fever and difficulty breathing.
Greater Yins can handle odors more easily and many prefer strong aromatic
fragrance. They can chew mint gums often and never find them to cause
headaches or dizzy sensations. They often wear perfumes or colognes in an
amount that is normal to them but others find overpowering.
Question 8
38 copyright © 2013 David Lee
All body types can have a high voice quality and sing well, but the ability to
carry a certain pitch range suggests a particular body type. The ability to maintain
an extreme pitch at one end or the other makes body type distinguishing easier.
Greater Yangs tend to have naturally high-toned voices and therefore can sing in
the alto or soprano register. Many Greater Yins have a naturally deep voice with
the ability to sing in the baritone or bass range. A person with a voice in the
middle range, such as a tenor, can be of either body type.
There are many factors that influence the tone of the voice and can make
distinguishing body type somewhat less-than straightforward. Sickness can
temporarily change one’s voice or can even permanently damage it. Certain kinds
of exercise can develop muscles in the neck, thus making voices deeper.
Furthermore, a growth spurt can make the voice high pitched and then break.
Some people develop a deeper voice depending on social status or for leading a
group of people; this is observed frequently in the military.
Question 9
This question is about sensitivity to ambient temperature. Anyone can get
accustomed to cold or hot temperatures over time, but there is still an innate
preference displayed between the Greater Yangs and Greater Yins. Generally
speaking, Greater Yangs get chills easily, whereas Greater Yins can handle—or
even prefer—cooler climates. Greater Yins tend to have thicker skin that retains
heat better and are able to withstand cold temperatures more easily. For this
reason, they can also overheat and have difficulty functioning in the summer
months. Those who habitually wear tee shirts and shorts in frigid weather are
likely Greater Yins. These people can take room temperature showers or can
quickly adjust to the discomfort of wading into cold water.
Many Greater Yangs cannot function well and find it hard to be physically
motivated when the environmental temperature is low, especially during the
winter. They find themselves wearing more clothing than an average person.
Some find it difficult to wear any form of light clothing in the evening or early
morning when the temperature is cooler. Before taking a shower, Greater Yangs
make sure the water is warm to hot before getting in. Although many Greater
Yangs like to swim, they often avoid doing so because of the initial shock of the
cold water and their difficulty getting used to the temperature.
Question 10
Thicker skin can sustain more injury and therefore allows for a higher pain
threshold. Because Greater Yins generally have thick skin, they can normally
handle more pain than Greater Yangs. They seek and enjoy jobs that involve
physical labor and exposure to extreme weather. Sports that involve pain are part
of their normal active life. For some Greater Yins, it is a stimulant and they do
not mind high-risk activities.
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Some Greater Yangs have high thresholds, but generally Greater Yins can
handle pain better. A person with high touch sensitivity or pain response is likely
a Greater Yang due to their thin skin.
Questions 11 and 12
Both questions are similar. Although scarves, turtlenecks, caps, and hats are
warming and should be preferred by the Greater Yangs, Greater Yins have more
affinity for them. Greater Yangs feel encumbered and find these garments to be
bothersome.
Many Greater Yins feel comfortable wearing this kind of clothing. They
have a favorite “thinking cap” because they feel they can focus and concentrate
better with it on. Some have a habit of wearing accessories on their bodies, such
as rings, wristwatches, bands, and necklaces because of their intrinsic value in
suggesting a sense of power. Lesser Yins tend to wear them for personal or
romantic reasons.
Questions 13-17
These questions refer to a person’s strength, stamina, resilience, and ability
to recover. Physical athleticism is representative of these qualities. Greater Yins
generally are more stoutly built. They have bigger muscles, stronger bones, and
better resilience. They tend to be good athletes. Their recovery from injury or
surgery is relatively quick.
Being able to stand for a long time without needing to lean, sit, or hold onto
an object is a reflection of mid-trunk muscle coordination and whole body
strength. The ability to sustain a note when singing or to give a long speech also
reflects muscle strength and stability. Many orators and vocalists are Greater
Yins. Although some Greater Yangs are also excellent athletes, they generally
have to work harder to get to that level.
Physical athleticism also manifests itself in the number of quality sleeping
hours one needs. Many Greater Yins sleep only a few hours each night but can
function normally and are productive throughout the day. If required, they can
stay awake many evenings to work on a project or to meet a deadline.
Greater Yangs may be able to stay awake through one night but will not be
able to stay up through two consecutive evenings. They will tire more quickly, so
resting the body and getting plenty of recovery time is essential. Greater Yangs
can be very productive as long as they are consistent in listening to and abiding
by their body’s needs.
Question 15
Greater Yins generally have a greater body mass index, bigger bones, and
bigger muscles. Because of this, their shoes tend to wear out more quickly. The
outer sides of the shoes break down as quickly as the cushioning in the soles.
Even with regular usage, some Greater Yins need new shoes every few months.
40 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Some Greater Yangs wear out their shoes quickly because their relatively
weaker muscles cause them to drag their feet. Otherwise, however, many Greater
Yangs’ shoes last for years.
Question 18
Greater Yins generally find it easier to get up in the early mornings and
make a habit of doing so. They are the early risers. Their minds work better
before the afternoon and they like to get things done before the full break of day.
Going to sleep and getting up early helps them to be more productive.
Greater Yangs have difficulty getting up in the mornings and tend to sleep
in. It takes them longer to transition from the sleep to wake stage, so their
mornings are longer spent getting into gear. They feel more revived after sunset
and are more productive until later in the evening. Because they often catch a
second wind in the evening, their productivity is maintained until late into the
night.
Question 19
This question refers to strategizing with the intention of achieving a better
outcome. It is similar to questions 5-11 for Lesser Yangs and Lesser Yins.
Organizational skills in Lesser Yins tend to arise more from a fear-based
response. The difference is not so much related to the fear of making mistakes as
it is a motivating factor, but in the desire to keep track of information. Greater
Yins like to strategize and know the step-by-step plan to get to the desired goal
before acting. Writing down thoughts and ideas helps them to visualize the task
better and have a concrete guide to which they can refer. For this reason, many
Greater Yins are avid collectors and keep good records. They enjoy the history,
minute details, and trivial facts behind their collections.
Greater Yangs tend to act before thinking through all possibilities and then
deal with events as they unfold. They are good at keeping ideas in their heads and
are quick to respond to changes. They can easily feel restricted with the notion
that their life is run by plans. Both body types dislike chaos and want a sense of
order in their lives, though. Greater Yangs and Greater Yins can be efficient at
making logical decisions when undertaking large projects and use careful
reasoning to execute actions involving minimal risks. The difference between the
two is that Greater Yangs are less restrictive on themselves with regards to
spontaneous activities, while Greater Yins lean toward making well-thought-out
plans.
Question 20
Being comfortable and able to work in high places has two components.
One is that the Greater Yin is by nature more physically able to hold steady. The
body’s ability to keep a stable posture reduces the fear of falling. Greater Yins’
sure-footedness results in a lower likelihood of losing balance and falling.
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The other component is that Greater Yins generally have less instinctual fear
in situations involving risk or danger. Therefore, it is easier for the Greater Yins
to rationally overcome their discomfort with heights. Their interests tend to lean
toward the arena of conquering, thrill-seeking, and the pursuit to the top. They
have less sensitivity to criticism and can better handle stressful situations.
Greater Yangs experience more jitters and prefer avoiding high places.
Because of their sensitivity to heights, there are more Greater Yangs who have
had bad experiences with these situations. Although the fear of height can be
overcome, the training takes longer and the conditioning can quickly be lost
without continual exposure to high places. Greater Yangs can also be more easily
startled in frightening situations.
Being more cautious and tending to take a safer route is not related to body
types. These factors depend on the situation and the individual’s assessment of
the moment. The social environment and its cues often dictate how we act or
what decisions we make.
Question 21
For Greater Yins, eating shellfish can cause minor symptoms, such as a skin
rash and itchy throat. A more serious reaction, such as anaphylactic shock—with
closure of the air passage and difficulty breathing due to a sudden release of
histamines into the blood—strongly indicates this body type. An absence of a
negative reaction to shellfish does not necessarily indicate, however, that a
person is a Greater Yang because there simply may be no immune response in
that particular individual. The presence of an intolerant reaction after
consumption of shellfish, such as stomach cramping, but without allergies, skin
problems, or anaphylaxis, may indicate a Lesser Yin with or without a Greater
Yin aspect.
Those with allergies to peanuts and other nuts are mostly Greater Yangs.
Common reactions include itchy throat and itchy skin within an hour of
consumption. Anaphylactic shock is even a stronger indicator of a Greater Yang.
For many of them, direct and immediate reactions are infrequent, but
unexplained skin rashes, chronic sinus congestion, and hay fever are often the
result of subtle and delayed negative reactions to nuts that result from continuous
exposure.
Skin and blood serum allergy tests on nuts can be useful, but they may not
always correctly reflect the true response occurring in the body. Many Greater
Yangs have negative test results, but they still have bad experiences with nuts.
Chemicals in consumer products, dander, pollen, and dust may be the culprits,
but the nuts make the body hypersensitive to these otherwise harmless
substances. Even if only one or a few nuts are identified as allergens, that person
may still be allergic to all nuts.
Question 22
42 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Having gallstones can be considered an almost exclusive event for Greater
Yins. The excess proteins are filtered into the liver, which in turn converts them
into bile and dumps them into the gallbladder. This sudden increase will make
the proteins aggregate. Increased concentration of bile causes precipitation,
forming tiny sand-like crystals that grow over time until they block the
passageway.
Gallstones can develop when a Greater Yin loses weight quickly from
sickness or from fasting because the sudden loss of body mass is transported
directly to the liver. Since Greater Yins tend to be heavier set and consume more
greasy foods than Greater Yangs, the liver excretes more bile into the gall
bladder. Excessive bile production promotes the growth of stones, causing a
blockage of the bile duct. A sudden and severe spasm necessitates the removal of
the gall bladder.
An atrophy of the gall bladder, or the presence of sludge within, on the other
hand, does not directly indicate a Greater Yin or a Greater Yang body type.
Hypo-activity can cause the gall bladder to deteriorate, rendering it functionless.
Gall bladder infections also do not necessarily indicate a specific body type
because they can occur in everyone.
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Psychological Types: East Meets West
Following the tradition of the four humors introduced by Hippocrates
in 4th century BCE and detailed by Galen’s four temperaments in 2nd
century CE, numerous contributions to their work have been made down
the modern age by philosophers and physicians. The 20th century DiSC
profiling by William Moulton Marston and Social Styles by David Merrill
and Roger Reid had the most direct correlation to the four Asian body
types. Although now primarily concerned with personality characteristics
and behaviors in psychology, typology is seeing a revival in optimizing
health and treating diseases.
Temperament is a person’s manner of thinking and behaving, which is
an inborn quality and developed at an early age. Temperament is
ingrained, expressed as consistent habits across various situations. It is a
natural and adaptive behavior demonstrating one’s own preferred way of
interacting with others. A person is highly predictable based on his or her
psychological profile to 80% accuracy. To react differently would require
this person to step outside his or her comfort level.
Not all motivations and behaviors reflect a person’s temperament.
The reason for this variation is multifold: autonomy, environment, family,
physiological state, prior events, psychological state, and society are all
influencers.s. People often consciously or unconsciously hide their true
intentions, which mask their actual body type. Furthermore, people are
constantly evolving to understand themselves through interactions with
others in diverse situations. No single characteristic should be focused as a
moment that reveals the body type. Rather, the individual should be
assessed from a whole-picture perspective that takes into account how
they interact in a range of settings.
As you read through the description of each body type below,
determine which is important to you, or is closest to your habits as you
consider your own motivations and habits. One of the four body type
44 copyright © 2013 David Lee
behavioral traits should stand out as your frequent motivator, impulsively
propelling you into action.
Form a picture of yourself using all the words rather than a select few.
Observe yourself as objectively as possible from a third-person
perspective. Make note of which social style you find most frequently
expressed in your thoughts and actions. The set of words should be
considered together, not as single words, but as groups. To help you
identify your type more accurately, form a holistic picture of your
behaviors with all the descriptive words, focusing on actions over time
rather than recalling specific instances. Do not get hung up on one or two
words, but quickly determine which description describes you best overall.
Being human, everyone at one time or another will experience all body
types in varying degrees. Few words that you strongly agree or disagree
with do not necessarily include or exclude you from that body type
because the level of characteristics varies from person to person within the
same body type. The whole set that stands out most strongly, especially in
social settings, will best identify your body type.
Remember that habits are behaviors you find yourself doing often,
whereas what is more important may be a value judgment to what you like
to be or do. Value judgments may not reflect your body type as accurately
because they are often ideas that are contrary your make-up. Your value
reaction to some words is unavoidable and can be perceived as good, bad,
or soft. Rather than placing value judgments, let your rational mind
determine where you tend toward on a daily basis. These words are
intended to describe behavioral tendencies. Each style is neither good nor
bad, but can be advantageous or disadvantageous, depending on the
circumstances. Likewise, all body types have advantages and
disadvantages, but none are better than the others.
Ideally, we would like to be all of the characteristics at appropriate
times. It would make us versatile, adaptable beings. Actions would be
appropriate for every situation. Some people have a better ability to
navigate situations with socially acceptable behaviors. For these, it will be
more difficult to determine their psychological type. For most others, it is
more evident. Although we strive to be a multi-faceted person in all
situations, the way our psychological body is hard-wired makes us
respond differently from the way others do. Because we do not have all
the same fore-knowledge and are not completely prepared, we react the
best as we can but still respond according to the self.
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All people fall into any one of the four body type quadrants and will remain in
that position throughout their lifetime. It is possible to shift quadrants but they
will eventually revert back to the quadrant that they are most innately
comfortable in. There is no perfectly balanced person, resulting in everyone
being one of four types. The closer one is to the midpoint (x=0, y=0), the less
distinct the body type is and therefore more difficult to determine it. The body
type imbalance is more skewed as one falls further away from the midpoint,
manifesting more of the body type characteristics and making it easier to decide
on the diagnosis. It does not necessarily mean that the person is more conducive
to sickness and disease. But there will be increased disease when the body type
imbalance is not addressed with the body type-specific diet and treatments.
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Fill in the bar graphs below with the percentage outcome after you go
through each questionnaire.
The highest body type score percentage may be your body type. To
check if you have gone through all the questions accurately, compare your
highest score against its opposite pair. The opposite pairs are YangYin +
YinYang and YangYang + YinYin. They are mutually opposite. For
example, if you have highest YangYin score, then YinYang score should
be least, and vice versa. Also, a highest score as YangYang should have
lowest YinYin score, and vice versa. The percentage score for the opposite
pair should be the least, and the non-paired body type scores should be
between the highest and lowest percentage.
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1. YangYin
(Greater Yin + Lesser Yang. DiSC: Dominance. Social Style: Driver. MBTI: ESTP,
ISTP, ENTJ, ESTJ)
Power, control, dominance, and assertiveness are prevailing characteristics
of YangYins. They like to feel a sense of power through controlling the self,
others, and situations. They constantly strive to be in power. They take action and
get things done. They make quick decisions. They are very quick to use their
power and control of situations when dealing with problems and challenges.
Since they work best under pressure, their attitude is to readily accept challenges.
They are comfortable in juggling many tasks at one time and do them well under
deadlines. They are self-confident while not readily displaying emotions or
feelings. They come across as able and it is easy for others to rely on them for
leadership.
The primary motivation for these individuals is achieving goals through
orienting their actions and thoughts toward influence and impact. They take
charge, are competitive, and always play to win. They are risk takers andwhen
faced with an obstacle, they try to figure out how to get around it or even go
through it, if necessary.
Contrarily, they have fear of being controlled by others and so they take
charge instead. Because their fear is failure and they don’t like to lose, their
actions are centered on winning and getting things done right. They focus on
achieving immediate results and ensure bottom line results. They may shy away
from details as they do not like to be bogged down with too many steps, which
can take away attention from their natural managing talent. They do not like
repetition and end up delegating much to others.
The following are typical careers but are not limited to YangYins, who find
them challenging and invigorating. Emergency room personnel/high-risk surgery,
entrepreneurs, high-impact sports, legal/litigation, operations management, sales
– full commission, and sales management. In reality, all four body types, but not
as much as the representing body type, can be found in the same profession
because there is variation in the particular environment and the job’s demand,
which can make it suitable.
Those who have opposite behaviors to YangYin body type are described as
agreeable, calculating, cautious, cooperative, dependent, docile, gentle, facts-
oriented, humble, low-key, mild, meek, modest, peaceful, reserved, timid,
uncertain, and undemanding. They cautiously weigh-in and study their options
before committing to a decision, shirk from high or risky responsibility, do not
like to be in charge, and prefer to be in an affable team environment. They play
games for fun, keeping scores only.
YangYin questionnaire
48 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Fill in the boxes below with 2 points for strongly agree, 1 point for agree, and 0
points for disagree. Please do not leave any blank as this will skew interpretation
of the total score against total scores of other body types.
1. action-oriented feedback
2. adventurous
3. businesslike
4. candid
5. challenging
6. competitive behavior
7. confident
8. decisive
9. delegating
10. dominating
11. efficient
12. empowering self and others
13. enabling others
14. fact-oriented
15. fast-paced
16. fighting for a cause
17. forceful
18. getting things moving along
19. goal-oriented
20. greater impact
21. hard-driving
22. impatient
23. impressive
24. independent
25. leadership
26. making decisions
27. powerful
28. practical
29. results-oriented
30. rough
31. self-directed
32. self-reliant
33. strong-willed
34. takes charge
35. takes a definitive stand
36. takes responsibility for moving ahead and making decisions
37. task-oriented
49 copyright © 2013 David Lee
High YangYin
In an intense state or in a high-tension situation, this personality type
quickly comes across to others who are not YangYins as forceful, impersonal,
and independent. YangYins are described by others as: aggressive,
argumentative, demanding, determined, domineering, driving, egocentric,
egotistical, forceful, pioneering, strong-willed, and unconquerable. They move
fast, talk quickly, purposefully make eye-contact, will be the first to extend their
hand for a handshake, put their arm around others’ shoulders as a gesture of
friendship or as a strong assurance, and would rather talk more about tasks to be
accomplished than their personal stories.
They are often the weakest listeners of all four types because they feel they
do not have time and tend to know the answer. Because they tend to take on too
much, they can seem too demanding and insensitive toward others. They are not
very diplomatic due to coming on strong and their innate bluntness. They do not
like rules and regulations, and are happy looking for loopholes. They frequently
challenge the status quo, overlooking risks and cautions.
Following are some of their mantras: “We’re going to do things my way,”
“My way or the highway,” “I do not take ‘no’ for an answer,” “Pain is a
stimulant to a driving force,” “I work through pain,” “I want it done right and I
want it done now,” “Winning isn’t everything, it is the only thing.”
aggressive
always I-am-right attitude
ambitious
argumentative
assertive
autocratic
commanding
competitive
decisive
demanding
determined
direct
dismissive
dominating
domineering
driving
egocentric
forceful
harsh
higher status
high risk
impressive
50 copyright © 2013 David Lee
inquisitive
mental fortitude
needs to have the last word
overbearing
overly confident
pioneering
pushy
results-oriented
self-perceived grandeur
speaking harshly
strong-willed
unconquerable
Total
Score
Percentage ______ % = Total Score _____ divided by total possible score 142
times 100.
51 copyright © 2013 David Lee
2. YangYang
(Lesser Yang + Greater Yang. DiSC: “I”. Social Style: Expressive. MBTI: INFP,
ENFP, ENTP, INTP, ISFP)
YangYangs are big dreamers, often idealistic. They see the big picture with
possibilities of a positive outcome for the benefit of the world. They are great
promoters of an idea or a product. People matter because YangYangs want
positive impact. They are optimists. Their actions are in conjunction with
positive thinking and a sunny disposition. They are all about people. They like to
get others involved and be part of a movement. They interact with people well
and are highly expressive.
They are generally more willing to make their feelings public. They
typically make favorable impressions by participating in a friendly manner. They
entertain and generate enthusiasm, motivating people. Their openness to
optimism may come across to others as excitement, or a natural gift of
persuasion. Their excitement is observable by: rapid speech, exaggerated
gestures, rapid eye movements, intense emotion, ability to change subjects
quickly, skilled interpersonal interaction, a fast-paced gait, and the desire to share
personal stories.
This does not mean YangYangs are extroverts. They can be introverted or
extroverted. Extroverts feel recharged when they are interacting in a group rather
than being alone. Introverts get their energy when they are alone, rather than
being in a social setting where there is a constant interaction with others. The
commonality between the introverted and extroverted YangYang is the
contagious excitement and idealistic approach to problem-solving.
YangYangs desire to achieve higher standards and to improve personal
performance. Because they are not willing to stay with the status quo, their mind
is in a good position to make adjustments. The bar in their internal standard of
excellence raises once their goals are reached, creating a need to pursue further
improvement and refinement.
Their primary motivation is recognition. The achievement motives are
enhanced when given praise for jobs done satisfactorily. They are easily
stimulated and encouraged by approval. They are most motivated to strive for
excellence by applause, praise, and recognition. They want others to be there for
them. Their fear is rejection, negative criticism, and disapproval.
Rather than trying to control emotions, a person with this personality will
show both positive and negative feelings. They openly communicate their
feelings and thought processes, which seem unguarded and revealing.
The following are some of their mantras: “Life is short. Get out and have fun,”
“Grass is greener on the other side.”
The following are typical careers that YangYangs find attractive and
invigorating: advertising/marketing, hospitality/tourism, public relations, retail –
sales, sales, and training. The values to a group or business are their
demonstrative, effervescent, energetic, enthusiastic, impulsive, inspiring, and
52 copyright © 2013 David Lee
optimistic behaviors. Some YangYangs are introverted and prefer to be away
from the center of attention. They still excel in jobs that are dynamic and do not
require a rigid structure to stay focused.
Those who have opposite behavioral style to the YangYang body type are
described as calculating, critical, factual, logical, matter-of-fact, pessimistic,
reflective, skeptical, and suspicious. They are influenced by data and facts, and
not with feelings. They dislike involvement and do not need people to like them.
They tend to specialize in one area because they intensely focus on one area of
expertise. They concentrate on work content, work alone, are logical, and seek
facts. Things matter more than people.
YangYang questionnaire
Fill in the boxes below with 2 points for strongly agree, 1 points for somewhat
agree, and 0 points for disagree. Please do not leave any blank as this will skew
interpretation of the total score against total scores of other body types.
1. achievement oriented
2. animated
3. articulate
4. attention-seeking
5. careless
6. challenge-seeking
7. cheerful
8. competitive
9. convincing
10. decisive
11. demonstrative
12. diverse
13. dramatic
14. dynamic
15. easy-going
16. effervescent
17. efficient
18. emotional
19. energetic
20. enthusiastic
21. excitable
22. expressive
23. fast-paced
24. feedback-seeking
25. friendly
26. funny
27. goal-oriented
53 copyright © 2013 David Lee
28. gregarious
29. humorous
30. idealistic
31. impatient
32. impressive
33. impulsive
34. inducing
35. influencing
36. informal
37. innovative
38. inspiring
39. interactive
40. less consistent
41. light, lively
42. magnetic
43. medium risk
44. motivating
45. multitasking
46. need to improve
47. not serious
48. optimistic
49. outgoing
50. people person
51. performance driven
52. persuasive
53. quick to move
54. decisive
55. reactive
56. responsive
57. seeks short cuts
58. solo
59. spontaneous
60. stimulating
61. success driven
62. talkative
63. trusting
64. warm
They do not like repetition and do not have patience to do a task repeatedly.
When they need to stick with a task, they bring in dynamism to make it
interesting and to take the mind off the menial tasks. Rather than being in the
now, they tend to project themselves forward toward possibilities. As a result, it
can seem impulsive. They immediately look for next thing to do once the goal is
54 copyright © 2013 David Lee
reached. Their key desires are maintaining fun, excitement, visibility,
recognition, and applause even if this may be an expense of dropping tried and
true tasks for the possibility of creating something even more exciting.
They have a problem finishing things. Because they are full of new ideas,
they work on the things that are interesting and may leave old projects
unfinished. They do not like to repeat things if they have been done once. Rather
than mulling over the same information, moving on is preferred. This is why they
tend to put off things until at the last minute or before the deadline. They do not
like to refine work with repeated editing. They often start things, get bored, and
try to get others to finish it or they just drop it. They have difficulty in making
formal reports and keeping records. Because they get distracted easily, they can
be perceived as lacking follow-through, over-committing, or lacking time-
sensitivity.
As indicated below, behaviors are more extreme in high-tension situations.
65. chaotic
66. cocky
67. dizzying
68. egotistical
69. excitable
70. flippant
71. hasty
72. impatient
73. impulsive
74. incomplete
75. inconsistent
76. lacking details
77. late
78. many unfinished tasks
79. messy desk, room, car
80. not gathering enough facts
81. not serious
82. over-generalizing
83. overly colorful
84. restless
85. shallow
86. undisciplined
Total
Score
Percentage ______ % = Total Score _____ divided by total possible score 172
times 100.
55 copyright © 2013 David Lee
3. YinYang
(Lesser Yin + Greater Yang. DiSC: “S”. Social Style: Amiable. MBTI: ENFJ,
INFJ.)
Both YinYang (Lesser Yin + Greater Yang) and YinYins (Lesser Yin +
Greater Yin) are oriented toward interpersonal relationships due to their common
sharing of Lesser Yin characteristics. These people like to build relationships,
networks, and support groups through cooperation and harmony. They are
sensitive to the feelings of others and will prioritize these over the task at hand.
The main difference between both is that YinYangs place high value on security
and YinYins are highly analytical.
A YinYang usually displays feelings openly, but is more interested in being
agreeable and cooperative. He or she seeks security and acceptance, therefore
maintaining a network of relationships is a primary concern. They are congenial,
people-oriented, supportive, and generous with their time. Their activities
proceed at a steady pace and are centered on avoiding sudden changes.
YinYang’s key desire is harmony. They have strong desire to help others
and to be supportive, seeking ways to help others feel good about themselves.
They build lasting relationships and show loyalty. They express appreciation to
others through words and gifts. Being people oriented, they submit themselves to
others through cooperation, patience, persistence, steadfastness, and
thoughtfulness. They are great at close, personal, one-on-one relationships and at
being reliable team players. They are the glue that keeps a group together. As a
consequence, they maintain a network of friends with strong bonds like a family.
Because they are courteous and friendly, they are the best listeners. Their
observant behaviors reduce incidence of interruption. They are slower in
movement and speech due to wanting others to have their say. They radiate
belongingness and a sense of security wherever they go.
Their pace is steady and they perform in a consistent and predictable
manner. They make sure tasks are finished before moving on to the next
responsibility. They are prone to making mistakes if impatiently spurred or
pushed to work on a deadline, although their mental agility is high. Since they are
aware that fast physical movement is not their natural inclination, they swerve
away from high-pressure tasks or responsibilities. They are resistant to quick
change if it threatens relationships.
They have a strong fear of feeling insecure. They like to be in and seek a
secure environment.
Their problem area is that they often have a hard time saying ‘no’ because
they do not like conflicts and don’t want to hurt others’ feelings. They may shy
away from competitions because of the reality that somebody has to lose. They
find themselves going along with a plan even when they really don’t want to.
They can seem overly tolerant with a depth of patience. They may go along with
things while resenting the person even for asking, eventually exploding later
when many injustices have been done against them.
56 copyright © 2013 David Lee
The following are some of their mantras: “Don’t rock the boat,” “Do unto
others what you want done to yourself.”
They are slow at making big decisions because they do not like change.
They like the tried and true, the way it has always been done. They are most
comfortable with conventional jobs which are consistent, habitual, organized,
prearranged, predictable, prepared, rigid, stable, and systematic. They perform
well in a work environment with pattern and develop special skills inherent to the
job.
YinYangs tend to seek jobs where it is essential for the society to function,
that build long-term relationship and loyalty. The jobs are characterized as being
concrete, conventional, cooperative, and having longevity and stability. The
typical careers that YinYangs find attractive are, but not limited to:
administration/support services, education, finance/economics, human resources,
manufacturing, retail – customer service, and teaching/education.
Opposite of YinYangs are those who like change and variety. They like fast-
pace circumstances and get bored very easily. They are described as
demonstrative, excited, fidgety, frenetic, impatient, impetuous, impulsive,
intensive, multi-tasked, pressured, progressive, restless, and zealous. They react
to change quickly. They do not like status quo and look for opportunity. They
juggle many activities at once, but are not necessarily able to finish them.
YinYang questionnaire
Fill in the boxes below with 2 points for strongly agree, 1 points for
somewhat agree, and 0 points for disagree. Please do not leave any blank
as this will skew interpretation of the total score against total scores of
other body types.
1. accommodating
2. agreeable
3. belonging
4. calm
5. civil
6. congenial
7. consistent
8. cooperative
9. deliberate
10. dependable
11. diplomatic
12. does not interrupt
13. easy-going
14. emotional
57 copyright © 2013 David Lee
15. family oriented
16. fellowship
17. friendly
18. friendship
19. good listener
20. habitual
21. desire to keep in touch
22. low risk
23. loyal team player
24. modest
25. networker
26. observant
27. organized
28. patient
29. peaceful
30. people-oriented
31. pliable
32. polite
33. possessive
34. prearranged
35. predictable
36. prepared
37. relationship driven
38. relaxed
39. respectful
40. rigid
41. security seeking
42. sensitive to others’ feelings
43. sentimental
44. sincere
45. slow-paced
46. social clubs
47. stable
48. status quo
49. steady pace
50. submissive
51. supportive
52. systematic
53. teamwork
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54. thoughtfulness
55. trusting
56. understanding
57. warm
58. willing
The following words describe extreme behaviors in high-tension
situations.
59. acquiesce
60. avoidance of open disagreement
61. conforming
62. dependent
63. lacking in goal-orientation
64. lacking initiative for action
65. overly reliant on relationships
66. overly subjective
67. passive
68. soft-hearted
69. submissive
70. too considerate of others
71. unassertive
72. not opinionated
73. unsure
Total
Score
Percentage ______ % = Total Score _____ divided by total possible score
146 times 100.
59 copyright © 2013 David Lee
4. YinYin
(Lesser Yin + Greater Yin. DiSC: “C”. Social Style: Analytical. MBTI: ISTJ,
ISFJ, ESFJ, INTJ)
YinYins have natural inclination toward compliance, abiding by rules and
policy. They exercise caution and conscientiousness. They tend to
gravitate toward analytical behavior without being decisive or forceful.
While controlling emotions, they tend to ask questions, gather facts, and
study data seriously. Their approach is structured and organized.
The primary motivation for these individuals is quality work. They
place priority on getting things right through orderliness and policy. They
focus on quality and accuracy through thinking analytically and weighing
pros and cons. They strive for competence and self-discipline. They want
to know all the details, not only the bottom line for making decisions.
Their key desires are order, accuracy, precision, and perfection. They
like to do quality work and do it right the first time. If there is no rule book
in place, they will write one. They may enjoy adhering to rules,
regulations, and instructions. Organization is what they do best. Rather
than opinions, they gear toward encyclopedic, fact-oriented knowledge.
Their focus on gathering factual information make them great planners,
problem solvers, and organizers. Having considered many facets to a
problem, they become great at creating systems. They are recognized as
highly inventive and the most intellectual. It is common for them to read
manuals and policies from cover to cover.
They exercise diplomacy with people using skill in managing people,
handling situations without ill effect. They are quick to think and slow to
speak from the desire to avoid conflicts.
They fear being wronged or getting into trouble. There may be a
problem with procrastination due to need to do a perfect job. Sometimes
they suffer from paralysis by analysis, which is a difficulty in putting into
action due to a constant need to gather information. They do not like
unpredictable people, disorganized environments, and incomplete or
unorganized directions. They are not very outgoing due to lack of
spontaneity. High standard of quality often leads to the preference to work
alone.
The following are some of their mantras: “Knowledge is power,”
“The chain is as strong as its weakest link,” “Do not leave any stone
unturned,” “If everybody follows the rules, there will be no conflict,”
“Everything in its place, and a place for everything,” “Get things done
right the first time.”
60 copyright © 2013 David Lee
The following are typical careers that YinYins find reflecting of their
values: accounting/auditor, analyst, computer programming, engineer,
editor, quality assurance/safety, research and development, and scientist.
Some famous YinYins are Albert Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci, and
Michelangelo.
Those who behave opposite to YinYins challenge the rules and want
independence. They will throw a rule book out the window. They are
described as acting independently, acting without precedence, arbitrary,
assuming authority, careless, defiant, facing up to trouble, fearless, free-
spirited, opinionated, rebellious, revolutionary, sarcastic, stubborn,
unconcerned with details, undiplomatic, uninhibited, and unsystematic.
They like to do things in their own time and in their own way without
systematic self-control.
YinYin questionnaire
Fill in the boxes below with 2 points for strongly agree, 1 points for
somewhat agree, and 0 points for disagree. Please do not leave any blank
as this will skew interpretation of the total score against total scores of
other body types.
accurate
agreeable
analytical
anticipative
calculating
careful
cautious
collected response
competent
concerned
conscientious
conservative
consistent
contemplative
cool demeanor
cooperative
critical
data-gathering
deliberate
61 copyright © 2013 David Lee
detail-oriented
diligent
diplomatic
double-checking
down-to-earth
exacting
extracting
fact-oriented
focused
follows directions
impersonal
industrious
keeping track
logical
low-key
low risk
mechanical
methodical
meticulous
mild
modest
neat
objective
open-minded
orderly
organized
painstaking
patient
peaceful
perfectionist
persistent
precise
punctual
quality work
quality-conscious
quiet
reserved
rule-abiding
serious
62 copyright © 2013 David Lee
slow-paced
structured
supportive
systematic
tactful
task-orientated
technical
thinking it through
thorough
undemanding
wary
willing to listen
In high-tension situations, YinYin traits are exaggerated. The following
words describe extreme behaviors across situations.
74. impersonal approach
75. indecisive
76. overly detailed
77. picky
78. stiff
79. stuffy
80. unresponsive
81. indecisive
82. lack of enthusiasm
83. overly analytical
84. overly objective
85. serious
86. unwilling to take risks
Total
Score
Percentage ______ % = Total Score _____ divided by total possible score
172 times 100.
63 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Chapter 3 History and Philosophy
Diseases and Body Types
Body typing, also known as Sasang Four Constitutional Medicine, was
proposed in the late 1800s by the Asian medical practitioner Dr. Jema Lee. Body
typing is based on the traditional Eastern philosophy of yin, yang, and the five
elements. He laid down basic foundational work that is recognized as an important
step in furthering Asian medicine’s efficacy. It complements and advances
traditional Asian medicine. He identified each body type through observation of
the body shape, physiology, personality, food reaction, and disease process. His
premise was that the treatment of diseases can be customized for the individual
patient when the inborn nature of the person is identified.
A body type is a foundational set up of a person born within a set of
circumstances at the psychological, physiological, and anatomical levels. The body
type will always affect the mind and the body. Therefore, treating the body type
treats both psychological and physical ailments simultaneously. There are four
body types, each with own needs.
The four body types are:
YangYang = Lesser Yang and Greater Yang combination
YangYin = Lesser Yang and Greater Yin combination
YinYang = Lesser Yin and Greater Yang combination
YinYin = Lesser Yin and Greater Yin combination
It is essential to determine what is appropriate and inappropriate for one’s
body type so that the individual and the practitioner can actively participate in
maintaining and improving health and preventing disease. Rather than relying
solely on a problem-focused approach, Asian medicine also focuses on the body’s
ability to heal itself.
The patient experiences not only relief from specific diseases, but the quality
of an individual’s life improves with better sleep, increased energy, less pain, and
a greater sense of well-being. All these can be achieved without side effects.
The purpose of acupuncture, Asian herbs, and dietary change is to awaken the
body’s own healing ability to move toward a healthier state. The benefits are
holistic without side effects. Good responses are obtained for all age groups, for
acute to chronic conditions, and for simple to complex diseases and conditions.
Many diseases begin with years of subjective discomfort. They later manifest
fully as outward symptoms and are positive on diagnostic examinations. When the
body’s imbalance is not severe, there is often no measurable difference; this
imbalance may lie low for a long time. The only measureable indicator may be
64 copyright © 2013 David Lee
subjective discomfort or pain. Telltale signs and symptoms are often ignored until
an actual problem arises or until the problem hampers the quality of daily living.
Asian medicine focuses on both the person and the disease. Even without a
disease diagnosis through Western medicine, treating the person’s body type can
be enough to bring the body back into balance and to resolve the complaints. A
person’s body, especially at the beginning stage of a disease, has the capacity to
overcome illnesses. The body has an incredible innate ability to recuperate from
illnesses and to stay healthy. Tapping into and supporting the body type enhances
the individual’s healing ability.
Asian medicine’s strength is in treating chronic diseases. By addressing the
body type, the disease further improves or is eliminated. Even when diseases are
well controlled with medications, the body is still in a dysfunctional state. Asian
medicine can reverse or resolve them.
Asian medicine does not have answers for all chronic diseases, but its strength
lies in the ability to treat many common and intractable diseases. It is used as an
adjunct therapy concurrent to other medical treatments, as a first choice treatment,
or when there is no other modality. Having a Western diagnosis is helpful in
understanding the disease and its intensity but it does not affect Asian medicine’s
diagnosis and application because it has developed independently over the last
3,000 years. It does not share the ideas of Western medicine, although they both
treat the same diseases which plague our modern world.
65 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Origin and Development of Asian Medicine
The Asian medical system, based on a philosophy virtually unchanged since
its inception, is coherent and well-reasoned Asian philosophy begins with the
concept that all matter and movement in the universe have a common interaction.
Just as electro-magnetism, gravity, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force
are the fundamental laws in physics, yin-yang is the pure form of any matter,
movement, direction, and thought, according to Asian medicine.
The unifying force of Tai-Chi (translated The Great Extreme) gives birth to
two things: yin and yang. An old classical Chinese text1 states that ‘from one came
two, from the two things came three, and from the three came the myriad of all
things.’ The Chinese feel that all complex matter can be reduced to simple,
immutable law: yin and yang.
figure 1
yang yin
These two things, also referred to as yin and yang, are the differentiating
aspects. The above figures are symbols of yang as white and yin as black. Yin
literally means the shadowy side of a hill and yang the sunny side of a hill. This
binary point of view holds that there is always a counterpart, which is the direct
opposite and at the same moment complementary. Where one exists, the other also
resides. A male does not exist without a female, brightness does not exist without
darkness, elation does not exist without sadness, upward does not exist without
downward, and so on.
1 The Way of Ethics, Tao Te Ching
66 copyright © 2013 David Lee
The following lists some examples of yin and yang.
Table 4
YIN YANG
shady side of hill
dark
slow
low
left
back
heavy
anger
tail
rough
deficiency
sunny side of hill
bright
fast
high
right
front
light
joy
head
smooth
excess
The items in the yin-yang categories are endless. There is nothing in the
universe that does not have its fundamental component in either yin or yang. All
physical objects, directions, movements, thoughts, and health are subject to the
binary laws of yin and yang. Our mental processes require comparisons between
opposing information to make sense of the world. Our physical movements require
a fine balancing act between these opposing physical forces.
Since one complements the other, they are complete by being together as the
following illustrates:
figure 2
Balance: equal amount of yin and yang
The above symbols illustrate that the entire universe is made of half yin and
half yang. ’From two came three’ means that the third component of yin and yang
is the middle line, or the point of differentiation. As can be seen in figure 2, there
is a middle line that separates yin-black from yang-white. The circle represents
wholeness, while differences exist within the confinement of the circle. The
straight line within the circle means there is potential energy but there is no kinetic
movement. Figure 3 illustrates the dynamic interaction between the two opposing
forces:
figure 3
67 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Active yin and yang
For example, if potential energy is night and day, then the transition from
night to day and day to night is the active energy. The curved midline reflects the
existence of movement, yin and yang playing tug of war. The two shapes inside
the circle move in a clockwise direction, waxing, waning, and transforming into
the other. The movement can also just as well be counter-clockwise, if the drawing
is flipped.
There is nothing in the universe that does not have, in its essence, yin and
yang. All physical objects, directions, movements, thoughts, and health are subject
to the laws of yin and yang. Since the beginning of Eastern civilization, balance
was an important aspect of health. The most authoritative ancient medical
textbook2, written over 2500 years ago, stresses the significance of being in balance
and is still important today.
figure 4
Too much yang Too much yin
Not enough yin Not enough yang
No one is born with perfect health because nobody has perfect balance of
energies, even at birth. We are healthy when the energies within the body are
within normal range. One can develop sickness when there is too much yang, not
enough yin, too much yin, or not enough yang. The goal of treatment is to bring
the amount of yin and yang to the equilibrium as shown in figure 3. If there is
harmony of yin and yang, there is fullness of life. Grossly disproportionate yin and
yang as illustrated in figure 4 is a state of disease. If severe, it can lead to a
separation of yin (body) and yang (spirit). The result is inactivity and death, as
shown in figure 1.
Ancient medical practitioners had limited knowledge of modern physiology,
but they developed a medical system through clinical observations with application
within their own framework. The result is the holistic medicine we enjoy today.
Although the concept of yin and yang is surprisingly simple, there are infinite
variations as reflected in the wide range of health and disease. A holistic approach
is designed to treat multiple problems at once. Therefore, a theory of yin and yang
can tackle this complexity and resolve multiple issues simultaneously.
Through meditative practices, ancient practitioners learned to discern proper
from improper treatment. This practice is highly subjective and is therefore
shunned by modern Western medicine. Asian medicine embraces both subjective
experiences and objective observations. Trial and error was and still is part of
2 Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine, Huang Di Nei Jing
68 copyright © 2013 David Lee
medical evolution, but meditation and enlightenment has woven Asian medicine
together as its own coherent system.
Meditation was a means of getting to know oneself and the world better.
Individuals strove to divest themselves of factors that led to incorrect perception
of the world. Those able to see the universe in its “true form,” were considered
enlightened. Their wisdom and proper advice were sought by the masses regarding
government, economics, daily living, and health.
Those who were accomplished in meditation perceived the meridian energies
flowing through channels within the body. The emotional, spiritual, and physical
influence on the health of the human was visible to them. Stimulating the active
points on the body with needles led to quicker recovery and over time these spots
became known as acupuncture points. These first practitioners learned to identify
and locate these acupuncture points, which have not changed for at least 3,000
years. These ancient sages also matched energetic properties of herbs and
substances with the body to bring about right balance and to normalize the
physiology.
69 copyright © 2013 David Lee
Glossary
Body Type – an inborn nature that is similar or identical to one group but is
different from another. It is used synonymously with the word
constitution.
Greater Yang – one of four sub-body types and one of two yang types.
Greater Yin - one of four sub-body types and one of two yin types.
Lesser Yang - one of four sub-body types and one of two yang types.
Lesser Yang and Greater Yang - one of four body types consisting of two sub-body
types
Lesser Yang and Greater Yin - one of four body types consisting of two sub-body
types
Lesser Yin - one of four sub-body types and one of two yin types.
Lesser Yin and Greater Yang - one of four body types consisting of two sub-body
types
Lesser Yin and Greater Yin - one of four body types consisting of two sub-body
types
YangYang – short name for Lesser Yang and Greater Yang sub-body type
combination.
YangYin - short name for Lesser Yang and Greater Yin sub-body type
combination.
YinYang - short name for Lesser Yin and Greater Yang sub-body type
combination.
YinYin - short name for Lesser Yin and Greater Yin sub-body type combination.
70 copyright © 2013 David Lee
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